Unit 4 9D: Emergence of a new species Flashcards
Fertile
able to reproduce
Viable
Able to survive
Speciation
The evolutionary process of forming a new species from a pre-existing ancestral species
Reproductive isolation
The inability of two groups of organisms to interbreed successfully; genetic isolation also ensures there is no gene flow between the two populations
Allopatric speciation
A form of speciation that occurs when a geographical barrier physically divides a population; the two sub-populations accumulate so many genetic differences that they become reproductively isolated and are considered different species
Sympatric speciation
A form of speciation that occurs without the involvement of a physical barrier; often occurs in plants as a consequence of polyploidy
Divergent Evolution
Where two or more species form from a single ancestral species over time
Adaptive radiation
The rapid diversification of a large number of related species from a single ancestral species