Red Queen effect An evolutionary principle, first proposed by L. Van Valen, that much of the evolution of a lineage consists simply of keeping up with environmental changes (mainly, tracking a deteriorating environment), rather than occupying or adapting to new environments. The name is derived from the Red Queen, in Lewis Carroll's Alice Through the Looking-Glass, who had to run as fast as she could just to stay in the same place. See also ROMER's RULE.

Red Queen effect An evolutionary principle, first proposed in 1973 by L. Van Valen, that much of the evolution of a lineage consists simply of keeping up with environmental changes (mainly tracking a deteriorating environment), rather than occupying or adapting to new environments. The name is derived from the Red Queen in Lewis Carroll'sThrough the Looking-Glass, who had to run as fast as she could just to stay in the same place. See also Romer's rule.