24 Flashcards
speciation
the origin of new species, is at the focal point of evolutionary theory
• Evolutionary theory must explain how new species originate AND how populations evolve
microevolution
consists of adaptations that evolve within a population, confined to one gene pool
macroevolution
refers to evolutionary change above the species level
morphological species concept
“They look the same”
+ widely applicable (sexual and asexual organisms)
- Subjective (which structural features distinguish a species?)
genetic species concept
“They have the same DNA”
- DNA sequences may not be available
- How similar is enough to be the same?
ecological species concept
• “They have the same role”
• Criterion: A species is a set of organisms utilizing a single niche
- Many organisms may be adapted to the same niche
biological species concept
“They can mate”
• Criterion: Organisms are classified in the same species if members have the potential to interbreed in nature and produce viable, fertile offspring.
– Note: gene flow between populations holds a species together genetically
• Members of a biological species are united by being reproductively compatible, at least potentially.
reproductive isolation
is the existence of biological factors (barriers) that impede two species from producing viable, fertile offspring. Reproductive isolation can be classified by whether factors act before or after fertilization
Prezygotic barriers
“before the zygote”
• may prevent members of different species from attempting to mate
• may prevent an attempted mating from being completed successfully
• may hinder fertilization if mating is completed successfully
Postzygotic barriers
“after the zygote”
• contribute to reproductive isolation after the zygote is formed
• reduced hybrid viability, reduced hybrid fertility, hybrid breakdown
allopatric speciation
gene flow is interrupted or reduced when a population is divided into geographically isolated subpopulations
sympatric speciation
sympatric = “of the same country”
• The key to sympatric speciation is that populations of a single species don’t need to be separated geographically in order to become reproductively isolated from one another.
polyploidy
the presence of extra sets of chromosomes due to accidents during cell division
– Polyploidy is much more common in plants than in animals
hybrid zone
is a region in which members of different species mate and produce hybrids
– it can occur in a single band where adjacent species meet
reinforcement
strengthening reproductive barriers
– reinforcement of barriers occurs when hybrids are less fit than the parent species
fusion
weakening reproductive barriers
stability
continued formation of hybrid individuals
Punctuated equilibria
used to describe these periods of apparent spurts punctuated by sudden change
In punctuated equilibrium, change comes in spurts. There is a period of very little change, and then one or a few huge changes occur, often through mutations in the genes of a few individuals.
graduated
s selection and variation that happens more gradually. Over a short period of time it is hard to notice.
The largest unit within which gene flow can readily occur is a
species
Males of different species of the fruit fly Drosophila that live in the same parts of the Hawaiian Islands have different elaborate courtship rituals. These rituals involve fighting other males and making stylized movements that attract females. What type of reproductive isolation does this represent?
behavioral isolation