Year 11 - Pre-Diploma Biology

THE MEANING OF SPECIES

The accompanying article from the New Scientist, Hybridisation Rules OK! by Martin Brookes,
though now dated (April 1996), is still very valid. He discusses the problems facing biologists when
trying to define a species. The argument centres around a definition based upon reproductively
isolated organisms, or a definition based upon organisms which share common features and
behaviour.
Read and then refer to the article to answer the questions.

The conventional, present-day understanding of what we mean by species is given in lines 7, 8 & 9.
Q.1
What is that definition?
A species is a group of individuals which can mate with one another to produce fertile off-spring.
As a definition it is quickly destroyed by the reference to Blue Whales and Fin Whales (lines 9-17).
Q.2
How do these two species contest the conventional definition?
These two species contrast the conventional definition of species because blue whales can actually
breed with fin whales to produce fertile offspring which can then mate with any of the two species.
Even though we consider blue whales and fin whales as two different species, they actually dont meet
the requirements of the definition.
In the 3rd paragraph (lines 18-37), the two concepts of what a species is, are compared.
Q.3
(i)
What was the species concept prior to the 1930s?
Before the 1930s, species were viewed simply as different kinds of living things; however, the main
problem was that they couldnt decide how to define different.
(ii)

Although not named in the text, who do you think was the greatest advocate of this
concept?
The greatest advocate of this concept was that no other definition could apply for every single species
and for every different case. In my opinion, this is the case until now because even the breeding
definition cant be fully satisfied by every species.
Q.4

What was/is the species concept introduced by Dobzhansky and Mayr in the 1930s?

In the 1930s Dobzhansky and Mayr introduced the concept of species as distinct breeding groups.
Q.5

Darwin was not particularly concerned by the concept of a species. Why not? (Lines 29-38)

Darwin was not particularly concerned by the concept of a species because he just saw them as
artificial collections of individuals and his main focus for the evolution theory were individuals, not
species as a whole.
Q.6 Given the probable several million of mostly tiny organisms not yet described on this planet,
what problems face a natural historian who thinks s/he has found, and wants to name a new species?
(Lines 53-63)
A natural historian who thinks she has found a new species could face many problems because in
order to prove that it is a new species, she must first prove that it cant mate with any other species in
the world. This can be especially problematic with small organisms such as beetles, because the
natural historian would need to prove that a certain beetle doesnt mate with any of the other million
possible species plus the ones which have not yet been discovered.
Q.7

What do you understand by the term sub-species? (Line 70)

A sub-species is a smaller group within a species which has minor differences to the rest while
maintaining the majority of common features.
Q.8 Organisms may differ or be similar in their morphology, anatomy and DNA (line 74), and
their ..?
Organisms may differ or be similar in their morphology, anatomy, DNA and in their breeding groups.

The variation in beaks of the 13 (sub?) species of Darwins finches on Galpagos are cited as a good
example of natural selection working to make groups of birds distinct one from another, rather than
reproductive isolation (lines 83-98).
Q.9 Explain the argument being used.
The article explains that the groups of finches in the Galapagos are kept distinct one from another due
to the fact the birds choose not to mate between species; this can also be called natural selection. Each
species has its beak specifically adapted for eating a particular type of seed, and although mating
between species can create a healthy and fertile offspring, the offspring will have an intermediate beak
shape which is not adapted for feeding. This means that the finches abstain themselves from mating
with different species due to the fact that their off-spring wont be adapted, rather than for the fact
their abilities prevent them from doing so (reproductive isolation).
Q.10 (i)

Why do hybridising species challenge the conventional BSC? (Lines 99-113)

Hybridising species challenge the conventional BSC because they are a proof that different species can
in fact reproduce with one another and sometimes produce a fertile and healthy off-spring. Hybrids
can be used against the concept of species as isolated, reproductive units.
(ii)

And why is the US Endangered Species Act (1973) a problem for taxonomists? (Lines
119-120)

The US Endangered Species Act is a problem for taxonomists because it excludes hybrids from legal
protection due to the fact they are technically not pure. Taxonomists must therefore find another
definition of species in order to include all organisms and protect them.
Red wolves and coyotes are known to have hybridised (lines 126-129).
(iii)
Can you name another two species who can successfully hybridise?

The elegant sego lily can reproduce with the mariposa lily. They are both types of plants.
Another example is the donkey and the horse, which reproduce to create a sterile mule.
Other examples of hybridising species are Hawaiian silverswords, orchids, roses, birds,
butterflies and coral reef fish.

Darwinian evolution theory focuses very much upon species and clusters of related individuals (lines
156-157).
Q.11 What therefore is the evolving unit in Darwinian evolution theory?
The evolving unit in the Darwinian evolution theory are specific individuals.
Q.12 Selection forces act upon the small cluster of related individuals but specifically, and in
genetic terms, what is it that is being selected for or against?
The genes and the anatomy.
Q.13

Given this discussion, what would now be your best definition of a species?

In my opinion, the best definition of species would be: a group of individuals with similar
characteristics and with the ability to mate with other individuals of the same species to produce a
fertile off-spring which also has similar characteristics.
Q.14 What is the fundamental event in the DNA of an organism that ultimately can enable evolution
of a new organism with different characteristics to appear?
The fundamental event in the DNA of an organism that can ultimately enable evolution of a new
organism with different characteristics to appear is mutation or genetic variation.

Q.15 For one organism, give a full classification (from Kingdom to species), saying at each point of
classification, what characteristics enable the grouping of the organism.
This is the full classification of a horse. It belongs to the Animalia Kingdom which is grouped together
due to the fact it contains living organisms which have the capacity to move and a rapid motor
response to stimulation. Horses belong to the Mammalia Class and animals in this class are grouped
due to the fact they are warm blooded mammals with hair; and the females have mammary glands to
feed the young. They are also part of the Equidae Family which includes horses, zebras and wild ass.
Finally, they belong to the species caballus which describes them as true horses. Here is a table
which explains each stage of the classification in more detail:

General Definition of a species:

Group of organisms} which can interbreed

+
produce fertile off-spring
Common Morphology

Share } DNA similarities

} Genome

Share Behavior

Common Ancestry

John Osborne
February 2015