3 MECHANISMS OF RED QUEEN DYNAMICS

Models describing systems of coevolving populations often have asympto tically non-equilibrium dynamics (Red Queen dynamics (RQD)). We claim that if evolution is much slower than ecological changes, RQD arises d ue to either fast ecological processes, slow genetical processes, or t o their interaction. The three corresponding generic types of RQD can be studied using singular perturbation theory and have very different properties and biological implications. We present simple examples of ecological, genetical, and ecogenetical RQD and describe how they may be recognized in natural populations. In particular, ecogenetical RQD often involve alternations of long epochs with radically different dyn amics.