| Abstract: | Simple optimization models are used to explore the effects that an additional species has on predator-prey coevolution. The additional species is either an alternative prey or a higher-level predator that consumes the first predator species. Results indicate that a variety of effects on predator-prey coevolution are possible. In general, the additional species does not decouple evolutionary changes in the predator and the prey, and often leads to stronger coupling. The manner in which predator and prey adaptations combine to determine the predator's capture rate has a major effect on how an additional species influences the coevolutionary responses of the original pair of species. |
