Question

List and describe one predator strategy and one countermeasure for prey. Describe a reasonable pathway of events and name a mechanism for how coevolution would occur in this situation?

Answer 1

There can be many strategies for predator and prey strategy. They show coeevolution. Where the prey evolve to get the best strategy to avoid the predation while the predator adopts strategy to become more efficient in catching, eating , absorbing etc of prey. Thus, they both fight for their life survival and thus, selection pressure act on both of them for evolving a strategy.

For eg. Monarch butterfly avoid predation by birds due to presence of special chemical in its body which makes it highly distasteful. This is acquired by monarch butterfly by feeding on a poisonous weed.

Other examples can be warning colorations, camouflage in lizards, frogs, mimicry done by prey or predator also like praying mantis for capturing prey by ambush etc.

Thus, it is an evolutionary arms race.