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Line 133: An extensively documented case of co-evolution is the relationship between ''[[Pseudomyrmex]]'', a type of [[ant]], and the [[acacia]], a plant that the ant uses for food and shelter. The relationship between the two is so intimate that it has led to the evolution of special structures and behaviors in both organisms. The ant defends the acacia against [[herbivore]]s and clears the forest floor of the seeds from competing plants. In response, the plant has evolved swollen thorns that the ants use as shelter and special flower parts that the ants eat.<ref>{{cite web \|url= http://www.sil.si.edu/smithsoniancontributions/Botany/pdf_hi/sctb-0013.pdf \|format= pdf\| title=Swollen-Thorn Acacias of Central America \|accessdate=2007-08-31 \|last= Janzen \|first= Daniel \|coauthors= \|date=1974 \|work= Smithsonian Contributions to Biology \|publisher= Smithsonian Institute }}</ref> Such co-evolution does not imply that the ants and the tree choose to behave in an [[altruism\|altruistic]] manner. Rather, across a population small genetic changes in both ant and tree benefited each. ~~and the~~The benefit gave a slightly higher chance of the characteristic being passed on to the next generation. Over time, successive mutations created the relationship we observe today. ==Species==

Introduction to evolution: Difference between revisions