speciation

(noun)

the process by which new distinct species evolve

Related Terms

  • allopatric
  • sympatric
  • arboreal
  • Australopithecus

Examples of speciation in the following topics:

  • Varying Rates of Speciation

    • Two patterns are currently observed in the rates of speciation: gradual speciation and punctuated equilibrium.
    • In terms of how quickly speciation occurs, two patterns are currently observed: the gradual speciation model and the punctuated equilibrium model.
    • In the gradual speciation model, species diverge gradually over time in small steps.
    • The primary influencing factor on changes in speciation rate is environmental conditions.
    • In (a) gradual speciation, species diverge at a slow, steady pace as traits change incrementally.
  • Speciation

    • Speciation is an event in which a single species may branch to form two or more new species.
    • Biologists have proposed mechanisms by which this could occur that fall into two broad categories: allopatric speciation and sympatric speciation.
    • Sympatric speciation (sym- = "same"; -patric = "homeland") involves speciation occurring within a parent species remaining in one location.
    • Biologists think of speciation events as the splitting of one ancestral species into two descendant species.
    • Define speciation and discuss the ways in which it may occur
  • Sympatric Speciation

    • Sympatric speciation occurs when two individual populations diverge from an ancestral species without being separated geographically.
    • The process of speciation within the same space is called sympatric speciation.
    • A number of mechanisms for sympatric speciation have been proposed and studied.
    • One form of sympatric speciation can begin with a serious chromosomal error during cell division.
    • In this way, sympatric speciation can occur quickly by forming offspring with 4n: a tetraploid.
  • Allopatric Speciation

    • Allopatric speciation occurs when a single species becomes geographically separated; each group evolves new and distinctive traits.
    • This is known as allopatric speciation.
    • Scientists have documented numerous cases of allopatric speciation.
    • These variances can lead to evolved differences in the owls, resulting in speciation.
    • The owl is an example of allopatric speciation.
  • Hybrid Zones

    • Speciation occurs over a span of evolutionary time.
    • After speciation, two species may recombine or even continue interacting indefinitely.
    • This term is used because the low success of the hybrids reinforces the original speciation.
    • Over time, via a process called hybrid speciation, the hybrids themselves can become a separate species.
    • After speciation has occurred, the two separate-but-closely-related species may continue to produce offspring in an area called the hybrid zone.
  • Homologs, Orthologs, and Paralogs

    • Two segments of DNA can have shared ancestry because of either a speciation event (orthologs) or a duplication event (paralogs).
    • Homologous sequences are orthologous if they were separated by a speciation event: when a species diverges into two separate species, the copies of a single gene in the two resulting species are said to be orthologous.
    • Paralogs can be split into in-paralogs (paralogous pairs that arose after a speciation event) and out-paralogs (paralogous pairs that arose before a speciation event).
    • Between species out-paralogs are pairs of paralogs that exist between two organisms due to duplication before speciation.
    • Within species out-paralogs are pairs of paralogs that exist in the same organism, but whose duplication event happened after speciation.
  • Biodiversity Change through Geological Time

    • Biodiversity has been affected by five mass extinction periods, which greatly influenced speciation and extinction rates.
    • The number of species on the planet, or in any geographical area, is the result of an equilibrium of two evolutionary processes that are ongoing: speciation and extinction.
    • When speciation rates begin to outstrip extinction rates, the number of species will increase; likewise, the number of species will decrease when extinction rates begin to overtake speciation rates.
  • Whole-Genome Duplication

    • Sympatric speciation can begin with a chromosomal error during meiosis or the formation of a hybrid individual with too many chromosomes, such as polyploidy which can occur during whole-genome duplication.
    • An example would be the recent speciation of allopolyploid Spartina — S. anglica; the polyploid plant is so successful that it is listed as an invasive species in many regions.
  • Reproductive Isolation

    • Reproductive isolation, through mechanical, behavioral, and physiological barriers, is an important component of speciation.
    • Speciation can occur when two populations occupy different habitats.
  • Post-Cambrian Evolution and Mass Extinctions

    • Changes in the environment often create new niches (living spaces) that contribute to rapid speciation and increased diversity.
    • Late in the Cenozoic, further extinctions followed by speciation occurred during ice ages that covered high latitudes with ice and then retreated, leaving new open spaces for colonization.
Subjects
  • Accounting
  • Algebra
  • Art History
  • Biology
  • Business
  • Calculus
  • Chemistry
  • Communications
  • Economics
  • Finance
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Microbiology
  • Physics
  • Physiology
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Statistics
  • U.S. History
  • World History
  • Writing

Except where noted, content and user contributions on this site are licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 with attribution required.