evolutionary trap

plural evolutionary traps

1. evolutionary theorybiologyThe situation of an evolved behaviour or trait of a species becoming detrimental to the survival or reproductive ability of individuals, possibly leading to extinction.

   Evolutionary traps can threaten populations and species if they result in widespread reductions in survival and reproduction.

   2010, Martin A. Schlaepfer, Paul W. Sherman, Michael C. Runge, “29: Decision Making, Environmental Change, and Population Persistence”, in David Westneat, Charles W. Fox, editors, Evolutionary Behavioral Ecology, page 507

   2 more examples

   2004, Francisco Pulido, Peter Berthold, Microevolutionary Response to Climate Change, Anders P. Møller, W. Fielder, P. Berthold (editors), Advances in Ecological Research, Volume 35: Birds and Climate Change, page 152, Antagonistic genetic correlations and maladaptive phenotypic responses (evolutionary traps) are probably the most important constrain[t]s to microevolutionary change.

   Sometimes artificial light becomes an evolutionary trap as the age-old biological imperatives of a species, which helped it survive for eons, turn into liabilities.

   2010, Jane Brox, Brilliant: The Evolution of Artificial Light, page 279

2. biologyThe situation of a rapid ecological change triggering decisions about choice of habitat that are detrimental for an individual; an ecological trap.

   Synonyms: ecological trap