... that plant: the secondary metabolite might be present for a variety of reasons (i.e. not just herbivory), or the insect may have had its detoxification mechanisms in place before encountering the host plant in question. Where two species are co-evolved but have a mutualistic relationship, this is termed mutualistic coevolution. However, where two species are co-evolved but are either competitive or parasitic towards each other, their relationship is termed antagonistic. This is also known as an "evolutionary arms race", because both groups involved are under selection pressure to out-compete the other. The extent with which predators and prey will interact with each other is the major determining factor of evolutionary arms races. Predators are limited to the prey they can consume, due to simple design constraints that prevents, say, a shrew from eating owls. There are therefore limits of the range of food types eaten by an animal within a ...

See this essay or coursework document in full right now