Paul N Pearson, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
Published online: April 2001
DOI: 10.1038/npg.els.0001667
Van Valen's Red Queen hypothesis is a model of coevolution driven by competitive interactions between species. It contrasts with the stationary or ‘lost world’ model, in which evolution is driven primarily by environmental change.
Keywords: coevolution; competition; extinction; evolutionary progress; survival analysis
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Figure 1.
Conceptual diagram to explain the different predictions of the Red Queen and stationary models of community evolution. In the Red Queen model, evolution is driven by biotic interactions and occurs at a stochastically constant rate (diagonal line). In the stationary model, evolution and extinction only occur during times of environmental change (darker regions). At these times, the predicted pattern is similar to the Red Queen model. However, evolution ceases in the stationary model during times of environmental stability (unshaded regions). Long periods of environmental stability (e.g. Period 6) may produce ‘Lost Worlds’ consisting of ancient and long‐lived species. |
References
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Further Reading
Benton M (1985) At the court of the Red Queen. New Scientist November: 52–54.
Ridley M (1993) The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature. London: Penguin.
Ridley M (1996) Evolution, 2nd edn. Cambridge: Blackwell.
Skelton P (ed.) (1993) Evolution: a Biological and Palaeontological Approach. Wokingham: Addison Wesley.
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