Species: Difference between revisions
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A collection of organisms that have alike physiological properties and that are capable of interbreeding and passing on their genes to the next generation | A collection of [[Organism|organisms]] that have alike physiological properties and that are capable of interbreeding and passing on their [[Genes|genes]] to the next generation<ref>Catherine Soanes, Angus Stevenson (2008). Concise Oxford English Dictionary . 11th ed. Oxford University press Inc : Oxford Univeristy . 1385.</ref>. <br> | ||
=== Species Concepts and Their Definitions === | |||
There are numerous concepts that can be used to define a species:<br> | |||
'''i. Biological species concept''' | |||
A biological species is a group of organisms that are capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring, and are isolated from other such groups to avoid reproduction<ref>Brooker, R. J. (2005). Genetics: Analysis &amp;amp;amp; Principles (Second Edition). McGraw-Hill.</ref>.<br> | |||
'''ii. Ecological species concept''' | |||
An ecological species is a group of organisms that share the same [[Ecological niche|ecological niche]].<br> | |||
'''iii. Morphological species concept''' | |||
A morphological species is a group of organisms that share a unique set of structural features.<br> | |||
'''iv. Phylogenetic species concept''' | |||
A phylogenetic species is a group of organisms that are bound by a unique ancestry and share one or more derived characters, which is also known as [[Synapomorphy|synapomorphy]]<ref>Mayr, E. (2000). The Biological Species Concept. Q. Wheeler; R. Meier, Species Concepts and Phylogenetic Theory: A Debate (p. 17). New York: Columbia University Press.</ref>. <br> | |||
=== References === | |||
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Latest revision as of 16:08, 4 December 2016
A collection of organisms that have alike physiological properties and that are capable of interbreeding and passing on their genes to the next generation[1].
Species Concepts and Their Definitions
There are numerous concepts that can be used to define a species:
i. Biological species concept
A biological species is a group of organisms that are capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring, and are isolated from other such groups to avoid reproduction[2].
ii. Ecological species concept
An ecological species is a group of organisms that share the same ecological niche.
iii. Morphological species concept
A morphological species is a group of organisms that share a unique set of structural features.
iv. Phylogenetic species concept
A phylogenetic species is a group of organisms that are bound by a unique ancestry and share one or more derived characters, which is also known as synapomorphy[3].
References
- ↑ Catherine Soanes, Angus Stevenson (2008). Concise Oxford English Dictionary . 11th ed. Oxford University press Inc : Oxford Univeristy . 1385.
- ↑ Brooker, R. J. (2005). Genetics: Analysis &amp;amp; Principles (Second Edition). McGraw-Hill.
- ↑ Mayr, E. (2000). The Biological Species Concept. Q. Wheeler; R. Meier, Species Concepts and Phylogenetic Theory: A Debate (p. 17). New York: Columbia University Press.