Very rarely do interacting species share identical geographic ranges. The ecological context of the interaction may change with location. These may differ geographically based upon the availability of particular alleles at particular locations. Evolutionary coadjustment of interactions Arms races occur when there are offensive defensive interactions where each species attempts to thwart the efforts of the other. Mutualisms occur as locally interacting parties attempt to improve the efficiency of the interaction.
Successional cycles occur during the patchy network of ecological succession.
The genotypes that are locally most successful are to some extent determined by the local biological community. Turnover occurs in habitats that are subjected to repeated invasions followed by periods of ecological and evolutionary adjustment, followed by the invasion by the coevolved species into a new habitat. Alternation occurs when predators select one from a series of potential prey based upon profitability. As an arms race makes that prey less profitable, the predator switches to alternative prey that may have lost their defenses to that predator. Character displacement and disruptive selection.