BIOL 211 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Species Problem, Species Complex, Macroevolution
Document Summary
The study of evolution above the population level. Morphological species concept: group of populations that look different from one another morphologically. Biological species concept: group of populations that can interbreed and produce viable, fertile offspring. We only need to examine that there is no gene flow (i. e. , interbreeding) This can be useful because some species that look very different actually may actually be members of the same species. All life is related to all other life thus what is a species is a question of degree. Requires a hypothesis about how populations are related. Monophyletic group : ancestral population & all descendants. In 1980, only six individuals - all males remained. Biologists launched a conservation program under the endangered species act. The plan was to breed the males with females from the nearby subspecies. The hybrid offspring would be used in a reintroduction program. Left to right doesn"t matter: time to most recent common ancestor is key!
