Concepts Flashcards
Biological Species Concept
If two organisms can breed and produce fertile offspring, then they are of the same species.
Pro: Fits in with theory of natural selection
Con: Doesn’t include asexual species, and organisms of the same species which can’t naturally reproduce due to difference in breed sizes e.g. dogs.
Phylogenetic Species Concept
A species is the tip of a phylogeny, the smallest set of organisms that share an ancestor and can be distinguished from other such sets.
Pro: New species more easily identifiable, and good for determining levels of gene flow in populations.
Con: Could lead to distinct species being considered one species.
Aquatic Ape Hypothesis
Hominins may be adapted to wading through water and may have evolved to be bipedal to swim, possibly through a flood.
