What is the biological species concept?
Q: What is the biological species concept?
A: The biological species concept is a way to explain how species form (speciation). It defines a biological species as a group of individuals that can breed together (panmixia) but cannot breed with other groups, meaning they are reproductively isolated from other groups.
Q: What are the key words of the biological species definition?
A: The key words of the biological species definition are "reproductively isolated," according to Ernst Mayr.
Q: How does a new species form according to Ernst Mayr?
A: Ernst Mayr suggests that a new species forms when an existing species splits.
Q: Who else suggested the idea of a species splitting in the 19th century?
A: Moritz Wagner suggested a similar idea of a species splitting in the 19th century.
Q: What role does reproductive isolation play in the formation of new species?
A: Reproductive isolation plays a crucial role in the formation of new species. Once a species lives in two different areas, the geographical isolation makes breeding between the groups reduce or stop. Each group develops features that make breeding between them work less well. Eventually, each group becomes a 'good' biological species, because the two species do not reproduce with each other, even when they are together.
Q: What is the most common reason for species splitting?
A: Geographical isolation or allopatric speciation is still considered the most common reason for species splitting.
Q: What is the difference between allopatric speciation and sympatric speciation?
A: Allopatric speciation is the most common reason for species splitting and occurs when a species lives in separate geographical areas, leading to reproductive isolation. Meanwhile, sympatric speciation takes place even though all the members of a species live in the same area.
