co-evolution

Japanese: co-evolution（英語表記）coevolution

…There are many different insects involved in pollination, and the relationship between insects and insect-pollinated flowers has been well observed since ancient times. There are many examples of flowers and insects evolving while mutually restricting each other, and these are often cited as typical examples of conjugate evolution. There are also many examples of flower morphology evolving in correlation with insect structure, but in many cases, the explanation is teleological and no objective proof is given. …

From [Insect-pollinated flowers]

...In addition, the structure of each part of a flower is often related to the morphology of the insect that visits the flower, and a relationship between the two has been pointed out, but morphological changes have not yet been empirically demonstrated. There have been many observations about the relationship between flowers and insects since ancient times, and in many cases it is considered that the two have evolved in a relationship with each other (co-evolution). The example of the Japanese laurel and the Japanese laurel wasp is a typical example, where at some point the two became inseparable, and they are more than just an insect-pollinated flower and an insect that visits the flower; they live in a mutually dependent relationship. ...

From [Ran (Orchid)]

...Also, to reduce the risk of losing a small number of collected pollen masses, orchids have evolved various methods to attach pollen masses to specific parts of specific animals (mainly insects). The compatibility between the flower shape of certain species of orchids and the nectar-sucking behavior of insects is remarkable, and they are sometimes considered to be representative examples of coevolution. Some species are known to have flowers that mimic the shape and scent of female insects, and are so specialized that they induce males to mate and transport the pollen masses. ...

*Some explanations of terms that mention "co-evolution" are listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

Japanese:

…受粉に関与する昆虫にはさまざまのものがあり，古くから虫媒花と昆虫の関係についてはよく観察されている。花と昆虫が互いを制約しながら進化している例も多く，共役進化co‐evolutionの典型例としてあげられることが多い。また，花の形態が昆虫の構造と相関して進化しているとされる例も多いが，目的論的な説明に終始して客観的な証明が与えられていない場合が多い。…

【虫媒花】より

…また，花の各部分の構造が訪花昆虫の形態と関連のある場合が多く，両者の関係が指摘されることがあるが，形態学的な変形が実証的に示されたことはまだない。　花と昆虫の関係については古くからいろいろの観察があり，両者が互いに関係し合いながら進化してきたとみなされる例も多い(共進化co‐evolution)。イヌビワとイヌビワコバチの例などはその典型で，いつごろからか，この両者は離れられない関係になっており，単に虫媒花と訪花昆虫という以上に，両者が依存し合って生活している。…

【ラン(蘭)】より

…また，まとめられた少数の花粉塊を損失する危険性をなるべく減少させるため，ランの花は特定の動物(おもに昆虫)の特定の部位に花粉塊を付着させるさまざまのくふうを進化させてきた。ランの特定の種の花形と昆虫の吸蜜行動の適合性は著しいものがあり，共進化coevolutionの代表例とされていることがある。なかには昆虫の雌の形や発散するにおいを擬した花を有し，雄に交尾行動を引きおこさせ花粉塊を運搬させるほど特殊化した種類も知られている。…

※「co-evolution」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について | 情報

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