BIOL1001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Corn Snake, Lion, Species Problem
Document Summary
It is important to understand how many species exist before they become extinct. What is a species: species = a group of related organisms that share a distinct form in nature. Interbreeding populations that can mate to produce fertile offspring. Subject to evolutionary force- fitter genes will be passed on to the next generation. Gene flow/mixing maintained by random mating within a species. Often have isolating mechanisms to prevent hybridization with other species: species concepts = different approaches for distinguishing species, including the biological, taxonomic and phylogenetic species concepts. They are not able to hybridize (ie: reproduce) Hybrid offspring are infertile or have low fitness: to test for same species = mate to see outcome, examples, mule = female horse (equus ferus) + male donkey (equus africanus) Bsc classifies horse and donkey as different species as mules are infertile: liger = male lion (panthera leo) + female tiger (panthera tigris)
