Define speciation.
The evolutionary process by which new biological species arise.
What is allopatric speciation?
Speciation that occurs when populations are geographically isolated.
True or false: Sympatric speciation occurs without geographic isolation.
TRUE
It often involves polyploidy or behavioral changes.
Fill in the blank: Adaptive radiation is a form of _______ speciation.
Allopatric
What is the biological species concept?
Defines species based on reproductive isolation and the ability to interbreed.
Define phylogenetic species concept.
A species is the smallest group of individuals sharing a common ancestor.
What role does natural selection play in speciation?
It drives the adaptation of populations to different environments.
True or false: Genetic drift can lead to speciation.
TRUE
It can cause random changes in allele frequencies.
What is speciation rate?
The speed at which new species arise in a given time period.
Fill in the blank: Reproductive barriers prevent _______ between species.
Interbreeding
What is a prezygotic barrier?
A reproductive barrier that occurs before fertilization.
Give an example of a postzygotic barrier.
Hybrid inviability, where hybrid offspring do not survive.
Define ecological speciation.
Speciation driven by ecological factors and adaptations to different environments.
What is polyploidy?
A condition where an organism has extra sets of chromosomes, often leading to speciation.
True or false: Behavioral isolation is a type of prezygotic barrier.
TRUE
It occurs when species have different mating rituals.
What is the founder effect?
A phenomenon where a small group establishes a new population, leading to genetic divergence.
Fill in the blank: Temporal isolation occurs when species breed at _______ times.
Different
What is reinforcement in speciation?
The process where natural selection increases reproductive isolation between hybridizing species.
Define speciation by hybridization.
The formation of new species through the interbreeding of two distinct species.
What is the significance of genetic variation in speciation?
It provides the raw material for natural selection to act upon.
True or false: Geological events can trigger speciation.
TRUE
Examples include mountain formation or continental drift.
What is a ring species?
A connected series of neighboring populations that can interbreed, but the ends cannot.
Fill in the blank: Speciation can be influenced by _______ changes.
Environmental
What is microevolution?
Small-scale evolutionary changes within a species over time.
