Final answer:
A predator/prey relationship can lead to the evolution of a new population through natural selection, as traits that benefit survival and reproduction become more common in the face of interspecific competition and co-evolution.
Step-by-step explanation:
A predator/prey relationship can lead to the evolution of a new population through natural selection. In this ecological interaction, predators and prey exert selective pressure on each other. Any heritable trait that improves a prey's chances of evasion becomes more common over generations, while traits that make predators more efficient hunters do the same. This back-and-forth dynamic of adaptations is a fundamental aspect of co-evolution, where species continuously adapt in response to each other's changes.
Predator-prey population dynamics are also a clear example of interspecific competition, where different species compete for the same resources. This competition and the reciprocal adaptations contribute to biodiversity and are fundamental in shaping the characteristics of the populations involved.