Year 11 - Pre-Diploma Biology

THE MEANING OF SPECIES

The accompanying article from the New Scientist, Hybridisation Rules OK! by Martin Broo es, though no! dated "#pril $%%&', is still (ery (alid) He discusses the problems facing biologists !hen trying to define a species) The argument centres around a definition based upon reproducti(ely isolated organisms, or a definition based upon organisms !hich share common features and beha(iour) Read and then refer to the article to ans!er the *uestions)

The con(entional, present+day understanding of !hat !e mean by species is gi(en in lines ,, - . %) Q.1 /hat is that definition0 # species is a group of indi(iduals !hich can mate !ith one another to produce fertile offspring) #s a definition it is *uic ly destroyed by the reference to Blue Whales and Fin Whales "lines %+$,') Q.2 Ho! do these t!o species contest the con(entional definition0 Blue !hales and fin !hales can mate !ith each other in the !ild and produce fertile offspring) 1n the 2rd paragraph "lines $-+2,', the t!o concepts of !hat a species is, are compared) Q.3 "i' /hat !as the species concept prior to the $%234s0 5pecies !ere (ie!ed as different inds of li(ing things) "ii' #lthough not named in the te6t, !ho do you thin !as the greatest ad(ocate of this concept0 Q.4 /hat !as7is the species concept introduced by 8ob9hans y and Mayr in the $%234s0 The concept that species !ere distinct breeding groups) Q.5 8ar!in !as not particularly concerned by the concept of a species) /hy not0 ":ines ;%+2-' He sa! indi(iduals as units of e(olution instead) Q.6 <i(en the probable se(eral million of mostly tiny organisms not yet described on this planet, !hat problems face a natural historian !ho thin s s7he has found, and !ants to name a ne! species0 ":ines =2+&2' the specie could be a different (ariation of a species that has already been disco(ered) Q.7 /hat do you understand by the term sub-species 0 ":ine ,3' # subspecies is different (ariations of one type of specie) Q.8 Organisms may differ or be similar in their morphology, anatomy and 8># "line ,?', and their @))0 Breeding groups The (ariation in bea s of the $2 "sub0' species of 8ar!in4s finches on <alApagos are cited as a good e6ample of natural selection !or ing to ma e groups of birds distinct one from another, rather than reproducti(e isolation "lines -2+%-') Q.9 B6plain the argument being used) 5pecies can remain distinct e(en !hen interbreeding) 8ar!in4s finches interbreed to create healthy offspring) Q.10 "i' /hy do hybridising species challenge the con(entional B5C0 ":ines %%+$$2' Hybridising challenges the notion as they ma e up around $3D of animal species and ;3D of plant species) "ii' #nd !hy is the E5 Bndangered 5pecies #ct "$%,2' a problem for ta6onomists0 ":ines $$%+$;3' This act causes problems as it e6cludes hybrids from legal protection) Red !ol(es and coyotes are no!n to ha(e hybridised "lines $;&+$;%') "iii' Can you name another t!o species !ho can successfully hybridise0 Horses and don eys 8ar!inian e(olution theory focuses (ery much upon species and clusters of related indi(iduals "lines $=&+$=,') Q.11 /hat therefore is the e(ol(ing unit in 8ar!inian e(olution theory0 The species Q.12 5election forces act upon the small cluster of related indi(iduals but specifically, and in genetic terms, !hat is it that is being selected for or against0 8ominant and superior species are selected Q.13 <i(en this discussion, !hat !ould no! be your Fbest4 definition of a species0 # group of organisms that are similar in dna, anatomy, and morphology) Q.14 /hat is the fundamental e(ent in the 8># of an organism that ultimately can enable e(olution of a ne! organism !ith different characteristics to appear0 B(olution is enabled !hen t!o organisms bond creating ne! characteristics in its offspring) Q.15 Gor one organism, gi(e a full classification "from Kingdom to species', saying at each point of classification, !hat characteristics enable the grouping of the organism) Plains zebra (Equus qua "#ien$i%i# #lassi%i#a$i&n 'in (&)* +ni)alia a!

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Hohn Osborne Gebruary ;3$?