In order for one population to diverge enough from another to become a new species, there needs to be something to keep the populations from mixing. Often a physical boundary divides the species into two (or more) populations and keeps them from interbreeding.
Speciation is the process by which one species evolves to form two or more new species. Often members of different species are unable to interbreed due to the evolution of reproductive isolating barriers.
speciation, the formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution. Speciation involves the splitting of a single evolutionary lineage into two or more genetically independent lineages.
There are five isolation processes that prevent two species from interbreeding: ecological, temporal, behavioral, mechanical/chemical and geographical.
Most evolutionary biologists distinguish one species from another based on reproductivity: members of different species either won't or can't mate with one another, or, if they do, the resulting offspring are often sterile, unviable, or suffer some other sort of reduced fitness.
Thus, new species form when individuals from diverging populations no longer recognize one another as potential mates, or opportunities for mating become limited by differences in habitat use or reproductive schedules.
Speciation occurs along two main pathways: geographic separation (allopatric speciation) and through mechanisms that occur within a shared habitat (sympatric speciation). Both pathways force reproductive isolation between populations.
Speciation can be defined as: the formation of new species; the splitting of a phylogenetic lineage; acquistion of reproductive isolating mechanisms producting discontinuities between populations; process by which a species splits into 2 or more species.
Terms in this set (5)Founding mothers and fathers.Separation of population.Changes in gene pool.Reproductive isolation.Sharing same island.
Speciation process (how does speciation occur?)Isolation of populations.Divergence in traits of separated populations (e.g. mating system or habitat use).Reproductive isolation of populations that maintains isolation when populations come into contact again (secondary contact).
Behavioral barriers, geographic barriers, and temporal barriers.