Phenotypic Plasticity in the Interactions and Evolution of Species
Abstract
When individuals of two species interact, they can adjust their phenotypes in response to their respective partner, be they antagonists or mutualists. The reciprocal phenotypic change between individuals of interacting species can reflect an evolutionary response to spatial and temporal variation in species interactions and ecologically result in the structuring of food chains. The evolution of adaptive phenotypic plasticity has led to the success of organisms in novel habitats, and potentially contributes to genetic differentiation and speciation. Taken together, phenotypic responses in species interactions represent modifications that can lead to reciprocal change in ecological time, altered community patterns, and expanded evolutionary potential of species.
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Predation is an important driver of species-level change in modern and fossil ecosystems, often through selection for defensive phenotypes in prey responding to predation pressures over time.
“Predation is an important driver of species-level change in modern and fossil ecosystems, often through selection for defensive phenotypes in prey responding to predation pressures over time.”
From Adaptive responses in Cambrian predator and prey highlight the arms race during the rise of animals (2025) · cites this paper as [1]
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- Authors
- Agrawal, A. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Toronto (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Agrawal, Anurag A.
- ORCID
- Agrawal, Anurag A.
- Venue
- Science
- Published
- 2001-10-12
- Volume
- 294
- Issue
- 5541
- Pages
- 321-326
- ISSN
- 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
- 1095-9203
- OpenAlex
- W2096338275
- Cited by
- 1,630
- References
- 0
- Citations by year
- 2026: 43 · 2025: 49 · 2024: 49 · 2023: 58 · 2022: 58 · 2021: 71 · 2020: 71 · 2019: 69 · 2018: 132 · 2017: 109 · 2016: 78 · 2015: 86 · 2014: 73 · 2013: 95 · 2012: 78
- FWCI
- 5.06
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Science (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Keywords
- phenotypic plasticity, species interactions, mutualism, antagonism, coevolution, speciation, genetic differentiation, community ecology, adaptive potential
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Environment, Biological Evolution, Genotype, Mutation, Phenotype, Predatory Behavior, Symbiosis, Genetic Variation, Ecosystem, Plant Physiological Phenomena, Food Chain
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