Chapter 17 Speciation

Vocab
Acrosome The structure at the forward tip of an animal sperm that is the first to fuse
with the egg membrane and enter the egg cell.
Allopatric speciation The formation of two species from one when reproductive
isolation occurs because of the interposition of (or crossing of) a physical geographic barrier
such as a river. Also called geographic speciation.
Allopolyploidy The possession of more than two chromosome sets that are derived
from more than one species.
Autopolyploidy The possession of more than two entire chromosomes sets that are
derived from a single species.
Biological species concept The definition of a species as a group of actually or
potentially interbreeding natural populations that are reproductively isolated from other such
groups.
Centromere The region where sister chromatids join.
Hybrid zone A region of overlap in the ranges of two closely related species where the
species may hybridize.
Lineage species concept The definition of a species as a branch on the tree of life,
which has a history that starts at a speciation event and ends either at extinction or at another
speciation event.
Morphological species concept The definition of a species as a group of individuals that
look alike.
Polyploidy The possession of more than two entire sets of chromosomes.
Postzygotic isolating mechanisms Bar-riers to the reproductive process that occur after
the union of the nuclei of two gametes.
Prezygotic isolating mechanisms Barriers to the reproductive process that occur before
the union of the nuclei of two gametes
Reinforcement The evolution of enhanced reproductive isolation between populations
due to natural selection for greater isolation.
Reproductive isolation Condition in which two divergent populations are no longer
exchanging genes. Can lead to speciation

Speciation The process of splitting one population into two populations that are
reproductively isolated from one another.
Sympatric speciation Speciation due to reproductive isolation without any physical
separation of the subpopulation.

Questions
1. Originally species were defined based on their morphology, similar physical features. Then
species were defined by reproductive isolation. This means that if a population that split from the
source and can no longer breed with the source population then it is considered a new species.
Ernst Mayr proposed this biological species concept based on reproductive isolation. Another
species definition is the linkage species concept. This looks at the evolution of species over time
and their ancestors. As technology has advanced, we can use data from the genomes to classify
species.
2. Isolation is important to speciation because it always the to populations to evolve
independently. As these two species develop they will adapt new features and DNA changes.
These changes can lead the two populations to become new species.
3. The Galapagos finches are an example of allopatric speciation because the finches became
geographically separated then developed into different species. Because the island selected for
different features of the finches, the finches all developed differently, and they became different
species.
4. Polyploidy happens when one species accidentally mutates and gets another set of
chromosomes. If this population tries to reproduce with the source population, their offspring are
sterile. Therefore, polyploidy can cause species to have reproductive isolation within two
generation.
5. An obstacle in sympatric speciation is that the individuals have frequent opportunities to mate.
6. Variation within a species leads to disruptive selection and causes new niches to be exploited
due to resource allocation.
7. Even if conception has already occurred, prezygotic mechanisms are still in effect for the
other members of the species so they dont create hybrids and remain isolated.

8. Prezygotic mechanisms differ because different species have different methods of

reproduction. For example, flowers morphology controls the pollination, but some animals have
differences in gametes as a prezygotic isolation method.
9. A hybrid zone would increase in width if the hybrid species were healthier and more
productive.
10. There are some Neanderthal genes found in humans with European and Asian backgrounds,
where Neanderthals were found, but not in the African populations. This suggests that
Neanderthals and humans breed after humans migrated from Africa

Practice:
1.
20

Galapagos Finches

18
16
14
12
10

Number of Islands

Number of Finch Species

6
4
2
0
4

1
0.75
Time in MYA

0.5

0.25

2. Yes, the data suggests that as new islands formed the number of species of finches increase.
3. Speciation would still occur on the islands if there were no more islands; however, the
speciation would not occur because of geographic isolation. Since the islands would stay
constant without geographic isolation, there would be no pressures from geographic means. To
test this hypothesis I could compare other species evolutionary development on other islands that
no longer have geographic isolation.

1.

Percent of each Species in Recently

Hatched Tadepoles

R. Ber
R. Sphen
F1 Hybrids

Percent of each Species in Late stage

Tadepoles

R. Ber
R. Sphen
F1 Hybrid

Percent of each Species in Newly

Metamorphosed Tadepoles

R. Ber
R. Sphen
F1 Hybrids

Percent of each Species in Adult Frogs

R. Ber
R. Sphen
F1 Hybrids

2. Since the species were not introduce into the same pond until recently they could not breed
and hybridize before, so the population of hybrids is small in adults. In addition the hybrids that
are produced are less health so they died off quicker and have a lower fitness that the pure breeds
3. Over time the breeding seasons of the two frog species might become different. This would
allow resources to be used more efficiently, and it would discourage the interbreeding and the
production of low fitness hybrids. The pie charts would should almost not hybrids if this became
the case. If future pie charts show and increase of hybrids though, this would suggest that the
species breeding times are becoming more similar.