Chapter 16

Mom, Dad…
There’s something
you need to know…
I’m a MAMMAL!

WHAT IS SPECIATION?
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 So…what is a species?
 defined by Ernst Mayr (Evolutionary Biologist)
 A population whose members can interbreed & produce
viable, fertile offspring
 Being reproductively compatible is a key component

Distinct species:
songs & behaviors are different
enough to prevent interbreeding

Eastern Meadowlark Western Meadowlark

Sturnella neglecta
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 How and why do new species originate?
New species are formed by a series of
evolutionary processes which cause
reproductive isolation.
 Reproductive Isolating Mechanisms
 Pre-zygotic barriers are various forms of
isolation
 Post-zygotic barriers are generally related to

fertility & viability of offspring

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 PRE-Reproduction (pre-zygotic) Barriers
 This means there is an obstacle to mating
or to fertilization if mating occurs

geographic isolation ecological isolation temporal isolation

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behavioral isolation mechanical isolation gametic isolation
 Ammospermophilus spp

1. Geographic isolation
 New species occur in different areas
 physical barrier separated ancestor species

Harris’s antelope
squirrel inhabits the
canyon’s south rim
(L). Just a few miles
away on the north
rim (R) lives the
closely related white-
tailed antelope
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squirrel
 2. Ecological isolation
 Species occur in same region, but occupy
different habitats so they rarely encounter
each other
2 species of garter snake, Thamnophis,
occur in same area, but one lives in water &
other is terrestrial

lions & tigers could

hybridize, but they
live in different
habitats:
 lions in grasslands
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 tigers in rainforest
 3. Temporal “time” isolation
 Species that breed during different times of
day, different seasons, or different years
cannot mix gametes.

Eastern spotted skunk (L) &

Western spotted skunk (R)
overlap in range but eastern
mates in late winter &
western mates in late
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summer
 4. Behavioral isolation
 Unique behavioral patterns & rituals isolate species
 identifies members of species
 attract mates of same species That’s hot…
 courtship rituals, mating calls

Blue footed boobies mate

only after a courtship display
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AP Biology
 Recognizing your
own species
courtship songs of
species of lacewings
(that live in the same area)

courtship display of
Gray-Crowned Cranes, Kenya

firefly
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 5. Mechanical isolation
 Morphological differences can prevent
successful mating
Plants
Even in closely related
species of plants, the
flowers often have distinct
appearances that attract
different pollinators.
These 2 species of monkey
flower differ greatly in
shape & color, therefore
cross-pollination does not
happen.
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 Mechanical isolation Animals
 For many insects, male & female sex organs
of closely related species do not fit together,
preventing sperm transfer
 lack of “fit” between sexual organs:
hard to imagine for us… but a big issue for insects with
different shaped genitals!
Get that thing
away from me!

Damsel fly penises

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 6. Gametic isolation
 Sperm of one species may not be able to
fertilize eggs of another species
 biochemical barrier: sperm cannot penetrate egg
 receptor recognition: lock & key between egg & sperm
 chemical incompatibility
 sperm cannot survive in female reproductive tract

Sea urchins release sperm

& eggs into surrounding
waters where they fuse &
form zygotes.
Gametes of different
species are unable to fuse.
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 POST-Reproduction (Post-Zygotic) Barriers
 Prevent hybrid offspring from
developing into a viable, fertile adult

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 Post Zygotic: Reduced hybrid viability
 Genes of different parent species may
interact & impair the hybrid’s development

Species of salamander
genus, Ensatina, may
interbreed, but most
hybrids do not complete
development & those
that do are frail.
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Post Zygotic: Reduced hybrid fertility
 Even if hybrids are vigorous they may be sterile
 chromosomes of parents may differ in number or
structure & meiosis in hybrids may fail to produce
normal gametes

Mules are vigorous,

but sterile

Horses have 64 Donkeys have 62

chromosomes chromosomes
(32 pairs)
AP Biology Mules have 63 chromosomes! (31 pairs)
 Post Zygotic: Hybrid breakdown
 Hybrids may be fertile & viable in first
generation, but when they mate offspring
are feeble or sterile

In strains of cultivated rice,

hybrids are vigorous but
plants in next generation are
small & sterile.
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 Rate of Speciation
 Current debate:
Does speciation happen gradually or
rapidly? Or both?
 Gradualism

 Punctuated equilibrium

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 Gradualism
 Gradual divergence
over long spans of
time
 assume that big
changes occur as
the accumulation
of many small ones

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 Punctuated Equilibrium
 Rate of speciation is
not constant
 rapid bursts of
change
 long periods of little

or no change
 species undergo

rapid change when

they 1st bud from
parent population Time

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Modes of Speciation: Allopatric Speciation
 A physical barrier arises and prevents gene
flow between populations
 Reproductive isolating mechanisms evolve in
the genetically diverging populations
 Speciation occurs when the members of the
divergent populations no longer interbreed

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 Modes of Speciation: Sympatric Speciation
 A new species may form within the home
range of an existing species
(there is no physical barrier)
 May be:
 Temporal
 Mechanical

Behavioral

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 Modes of Speciation: Parapatric Speciation
HYBRID ZONE
Daughter species form a
small proportion of
individuals along a BULLOCK’S
ORIOLE
BALTIMORE

common border between ORIOLE

2 populations.
Hybrid Zone is formed

AP Biology Figure 18.10

 The two types of plants are close enough that
tolerant and non-tolerant individuals could potentially
fertilize each other—so they seem to meet the first
requirement of parapatric speciation, that of a
continuous population. However, the two types of
plants have evolved different flowering times. This
change could be the first step in cutting off gene flow
entirely between the two groups

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AP Biology