SYMPATRIC

SPECIATION
MERGHUMI CHAKMA BIOT 23/15
Table of contents
01 02 03
Introduction Speciation Sympatric
species
04 05
Sympatric
Conclusion
speciation
INTRODUCTION
SPECIATION
A brief recap
 SPECIATION

● In evolution, speciation is the process that results in the formation

of new and distinct species.

● It occurs when a group within a species separates from other

members of its population and develops its own new and
unique characteristics.
Fig: Darwin’s Finches (example of speciation)
• Speciation involves splitting of a single evolutionary
lineage into two or more genetically independent
lineages .

• Hence , it forms genetically new and independent

organisms called species , through the course of
evolution
SYMPATRIC SPECIES
 WORD ORIGIN

SYMPATRIC

Sym- Patra ic

(With or together) (Fatherland) (Suffix)

WHAT ARE SYMPATRIC SPECIES ?

• One or more species are said to be sympatric when their

geographical distributions overlap even though they may
segregate into different ecological niche (place)

• Eg: pig-frog & gopher frog

( Rana grylio ) ( R. areolata )
 Introduction

pig frog gopher frog

SYMPATRIC
SPECIATION
• Sympatric speciation is the process of formation of new species
from an original population that are not geographically isolated
•
• It is based o the establishment of new populations of a species in
different ecological niches and the reproductive isolation of
founders of the new population from the individuals of the source
population

• Gene flow between offspring and parental population during

sympatric speciation is postulated to be inhibited by intrinsic factors
such as chromosomal changes and non random mating
• Entering a new niche might automatically reduce gene flow with
individuals from the other niche

• This mode of speciation is typical in herbivore insects when they

begin feeding and mating on a new plant or when a new plant is
introduced within the geographical range of the species

• The gene flow is then reduced between the species that

specialize in a particular plant which might ultimately lead to the
formation of new species

• The selection resulting in speciation needs to be really strong for

the population to diverge
• Thus sympatric speciation is a sporadic event in multicellular organism
or randomly mating populations

• Unlike previous modes of speciation , sympatric speciation does not

require large scale geographic distance to reduce gene flow between
parts of population
 Genetic polymorphism
Original population

New distinct species Within the populaton

 APPLE MAGGOT FLIES &
HAWTHORNS
• Ancestors of apple maggot flies previously laid their eggs only
on hawthorns

• On the present day they lay their eggs on hawthorns , which are
native to America and domestic apples .

• Females generally choose to lay their eggs on the type of fruit

they grew up in while males tend to look for mates on the type of
fruit they grew up in. hence hawthorn flies mate with hawthorn
flies and apple flies end up mating with apple flies
• this means that gene flow between parts of the
population that mate on different fruit is reduced

• This shift from hawthorns and apples is an example of

sympatric speciation .
CONCLUSION

Hence we can conclude that understanding speciation is a

fundamental concept in order to understand our past and how life
that exists today came to be , how we came to be . In sympatric
speciation the most important factor is instantaneous origin and
development of certain reproductive isolation mechanisms between
segments of original population and parental population in the same
geographical area
THANKS!
Any questions?