Recommended for: Grades 6-12
Resource: Toxic Newts
Media Type:
QuickTime Video
Length: 5m 27s
Size: 9.1 MB
The interaction between predator and prey is a major force driving evolution. This video segment from Evolution: "Evolutionary Arms Race" tells the story of a species of newt and its garter snake predator. Although the skin of the newt secretes enough toxin to kill 12 adult humans, the garter snake can eat the newt and survive. Scientists Edmund Brodie Jr. and Edmund Brodie III, a father and son team, investigate this relationship and the factors which complicate this seemingly simple escalation of adaptations. Also featured: Edward O. Wilson.
Teachers' Domain, Toxic Newts, published September 26, 2003, retrieved on ,
http://www.teachersdomain.org/resource/tdc02.sci.life.evo.toxicnewts/
- Background Essay
- Questions for Discussion
- Standards
Evolutionary history is filled with "arms race" relationships between organisms locked in struggles of adaptation and escalation. This is an example of coevolution. Usually, we think of a population that adapts to changes in a physical environment. Often, however, the pressure to adapt comes from another organism. It can occur between species that are predator and prey, competitors, or even between organisms linked by mutually beneficial symbiosis.
One well-documented example of an arms race adaptation is the potent poison in the skin of the newt Taricha granulosa, which is food for the garter snake. Over time, some genetic variants of the snake that are resistant to the toxin have emerged -- and variants of the newt have become more poisonous. Yet another example is a species of snake that feeds on slugs. Some of the slugs have evolved a stickiness that makes them hard for the snake to swallow. There are, of course, structural and ecological limitations on just how much escalation can occur.
As with human arms races, the competition between coevolving organisms can have different outcomes. Sometimes the predator reduces the prey population to such low levels that not enough of the predator species can survive to maintain their population -- there is a critical minimum number of organisms needed for a species to survive. Quite often, however, predator and prey coexist with one another in a balance of nature that is subtle and built on their interdependence.
One well-documented example of an arms race adaptation is the potent poison in the skin of the newt Taricha granulosa, which is food for the garter snake. Over time, some genetic variants of the snake that are resistant to the toxin have emerged -- and variants of the newt have become more poisonous. Yet another example is a species of snake that feeds on slugs. Some of the slugs have evolved a stickiness that makes them hard for the snake to swallow. There are, of course, structural and ecological limitations on just how much escalation can occur.
As with human arms races, the competition between coevolving organisms can have different outcomes. Sometimes the predator reduces the prey population to such low levels that not enough of the predator species can survive to maintain their population -- there is a critical minimum number of organisms needed for a species to survive. Quite often, however, predator and prey coexist with one another in a balance of nature that is subtle and built on their interdependence.
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Source: Evolution: "Evolutionary Arms Race"
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