Correct option is C
Guild coevolution or diffuse coevolution refers to a scenario where multiple species evolve in response to one another, rather than just two species interacting reciprocally. It typically involves several species within the same ecological guild (a group of species that exploit the same resources in a similar way), and these species influence each other’s evolution through their interactions with common predators, prey, or other ecological factors.
- Option 1 (One species uses the other as a resource) refers to resource use or exploitation but does not describe the coevolutionary process involving multiple species.
- Option 2 (Two species coevolve reciprocally, but only to each other) describes pairwise coevolution, not guild or diffuse coevolution. This is when two species evolve in response to each other, such as a predator-prey or host-parasite relationship.
- Option 3 (Several species are involved in coevolutionary interactions) correctly describes guild coevolution, where multiple species within the same ecological community are involved in reciprocal evolutionary changes due to interactions with each other and their shared environment.
- Option 4 (A species escapes association from a predator and diversifies. Later, a different predator adapts to the host and diversifies) describes a specific case of predator-prey coevolution, not guild coevolution.
Information Booster:
Pairwise Coevolution: This occurs when two species reciprocally affect each other’s evolution. A typical example is the interaction between a parasite and its host or a predator and prey.
Diffuse Coevolution (Guild Coevolution): Unlike pairwise coevolution, diffuse coevolution involves multiple species influencing each other’s evolutionary trajectories. A species in a guild may evolve in response to selective pressures from multiple other species within the guild.
