ORIGIN OF SPECIES

BSCI103 - SI
SPECIATION

• The emergence of a new species is the bridge between changes in allelic

frequency (microevolution) and the boarder pattern of change in organisms
through time (macroevolution)
• Naming
• “King Phillip Came Over For Great Spaghetti”
• Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species
5 SPECIES CONCEPTS
1) Biological

• species are groups of populations that have the potential to interbreed and produce fertile offspring.
2) Morphological

• Morphologically similar organisms belong to the same species. species based on similarity of
observable measurable traits.
3) Ecological

• The ecological conditions (e.g., climate, food preferences, ability to grow on certain soils) in which
each group of organisms live are used to set boundaries between species
4) Phylogenetic

• the use of molecular and other traits that allow us to create phylogenetic trees. Species are all those
individuals that share a common ancestor.

5) Integrated

• Use all the approaches above

PREZYGOTIC BARRIERS
• i. Habitat isolation – live in same general area but have different habitats –
• ii. Temporal isolation – breeding in different seasons
• iii. Behavioral isolation – species use signals to avoid attraction between
males and females of different species
• iv. Mechanical isolation – shape of genitalia or flowers prevent copulation or
transfer of pollen
• v. Gametic isolation – copulation occurs but there is incompatibility between
sperm and ovule.
POSTZYGOTIC BARRIERS

• i. Reduced hybrid viability – offspring does not survive

• ii. Reduced hybrid fertility – offspring survive but their progeny is sterile e.g.
female horse and male donkey make a mule that is sterile
• iii. Hybrid breakdown – offspring of hybrids are fertile but their offspring are
nonviable – happens in plants
ALLOPATRIC VS. SYMPATRIC
SPECIATION
ADAPTIVE RADIATION

• A process in which organisms diversify rapidly from an ancestral species into

a multitude of new forms, particularly when a change in the environment
makes new resources available, creates new challenges, or opens new
environmental niches.