Arms Race Analogy
In the environment, there exist many biological interactions including predator-prey interactions. Some of these interactions can become coevolution interactions. In other words, two species reciprocally affect each other evolutionarily. Brodie & Brodie (1990) used the “arms race” analogy in respect to a coevolution interaction between Thamnophis sirtalis and Taricha granulosa. The arm’s race analogy indicates the predator will increase their resistance to the prey’s defense mechanism. The prey will follow by increasing its defense mechanism and the circle will continue. With the knowledge that the Newt (T. granulosa) secretes lethal tetrodotoxin (TTX) through its glands, Brodie & Brodie (1990) observed common garter snakes eating the newts and surviving. This caused them to wonder if there was a coevolved interaction occurring between the species. Because the arms race analogy is under scrutiny by other scientists, Brodie & Brodie decided to test for the validity of the concept. After collecting garter snakes, Brodie &
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Were there ever sympatric Th. sirtalis with low resistance living in areas with highly toxic T. granulosa? This would be something to look into because they did find the opposite instance. However, why were there high resistant snakes residing in areas with low toxicity newts? Because the analogy has a pattern of increasing resistance followed by increased defense, there has to be a fall-off and starting over at some point. In these areas where there were high resistant predators and low defensive prey, it is possible the arms race was either just beginning or starting over because it had maxed out. Brodie & Brodie (1990) could further their research by testing how high the toxicity levels of the newt can go in order to see if an arms race was truly occurring because they felt that there is a possible advantage to increased
Were there ever sympatric Th. sirtalis with low resistance living in areas with highly toxic T. granulosa? This would be something to look into because they did find the opposite instance. However, why were there high resistant snakes residing in areas with low toxicity newts? Because the analogy has a pattern of increasing resistance followed by increased defense, there has to be a fall-off and starting over at some point. In these areas where there were high resistant predators and low defensive prey, it is possible the arms race was either just beginning or starting over because it had maxed out. Brodie & Brodie (1990) could further their research by testing how high the toxicity levels of the newt can go in order to see if an arms race was truly occurring because they felt that there is a possible advantage to increased