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Chapter 18: Problem 11

Which is the best definition of species? a. A group of individual organisms with significant genetic similarities b. a group of individual organisms with significant genetic similarities that share external and internal characteristics c. a group of individual organisms that interbreed d. a group of individual organisms that interbreed and produce viable, fertile offspring

Short Answer

Expert verified
The best definition of species is option d.

Step by step solution

01

Reading all options

Read through all the options carefully to understand what each definition is suggesting.
02

Understanding common definitions

Understand the basic concept of species - a fundamental category of biological classification.
03

Examine viable traits

Consider the ability of organisms in a group to interbreed and produce fertile offspring as an important criterion for defining a species.
04

Eliminate Improbable Options

Eliminate options that do not address interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. Therefore, a and b are out since they do not mention offspring, and c is out since it does not mention if offspring are fertile.
05

Choosing the Best Option

Select option d, which defines species as a group of individual organisms that interbreed and produce viable, fertile offspring, aligning with the Biological Species Concept.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Biological Species Concept
The Biological Species Concept is a way to define species based on their ability to interbreed. It was popularized by the evolutionary biologist Ernst Mayr in the 20th century. This concept suggests that a species is a group of organisms that can mate with each other to produce viable, fertile offspring. This helps in distinguishing between species based on reproductive isolation rather than physical traits alone. Understanding this concept is crucial for identifying and categorizing different species in the biological world.
Interbreeding
Interbreeding is the process where individuals from the same species mate to produce offspring. This is a key component of the Biological Species Concept. If two organisms can successfully mate and produce offspring that are capable of growing and reproducing, they are considered to belong to the same species. Interbreeding ensures the transfer of genetic information across generations, maintaining the species' genetic identity.
Fertile Offspring
Fertile offspring are the result of successful interbreeding between individuals of the same species. For an offspring to be considered fertile, it must be able to reproduce and generate its own viable offspring. This criterion is important because it ensures the continuity of the species. A species' ability to produce fertile offspring is what maintains its genetic lineage and allows it to persist over time. If offspring are not fertile, the genetic lineage would eventually break down, leading to the potential extinction of that species.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Why is having a way of defining species and distinguishing between them important for the study of evolution? a. A distinction between species allows scientists to understand the common origin of all species. b. A common definition of species allows scientists to agree on all aspects of the theory of evolution. c. Divergence can only occur at the species level: it does not occur to larger taxa. Therefore it is important to know which groups are distinct species. d. In the study of evolution, the species is the unit over which change is measured

Give an example of convergent evolution and explain how it supports the theory of evolution by natural selection. a. An example of convergent evolution is the development of the same function, swimming, in organisms that live in different parts of the globe, such as Arctic beluga whales and Antarctic right whales. The fact that organisms that do not come in contact with each other have developed the same traits suggests that natural selection can produce similar adaptations in organisms who share a similar environment b. An example of convergent evolution is the set of adaptations, such as better running speed or more efficient hunting, developed by a species in response to competition with a new species that moves into the same region. The fact that a species adapts after it comes into contact with a competitor suggests that natural selection works more quickly with higher selective pressures. c. An example of convergent evolution is the development of an ancestral structure, a limb, into two different modern structures, such as a hand and a flipper. The fact that natural selection can cause a structure to develop down two different pathways due to different environmental conditions supports the theory of evolution d. An example of convergent evolution is the development of the same function, flying, in organisms that do not share a recent common ancestry, such as insects and birds. The fact that wings that allow flight have developed from very different original structures suggests that the process of natural selection can produce similar adaptations in two very different types of organisms who share a similar environment

Until recently, these three species of short-tailed pythons, Python curtus, Python brongersmai (middle), and Python breitensteini were considered one species. However, due to the different locations in which they are found, they have become three distinct species. What is this an example of? a. divergent evolution b. sympatric speciation c. allopatric speciation d. variation

A biologist studies a population of voles for 20 years. During almost the entire research period, the population stays between 50 and 75 individuals. Additionally, fewer than half of the voles born do not survive to reproduce, due to predation and competition for food. Then, in one generation, 80% of the voles born live to reproduce. The population increases to 110 individuals. What inferences about food and predation can you make for the singular generation in which 80% of offspring survived? What prediction can you make about the genetic and phenotypic variation of future populations for this group of voles? a. Either there was fewer food available or the degree of predation increased. The future generations of this group of voles should evidence fewer genetic variation. b. Either there was fewer food available or the degree of predation increased. The future generations of this group of voles should evidence greater genetic variation. c. Either there was more food available or the degree of predation decreased. The future generations of this group of voles should evidence less genetic variation. d. Either there was more food available or the degree of predation decreased. The future generations of this group of voles should evidence greater genetic variation.

Which of these statements about a natural principle that points to the inevitability of natural selection is false? a. Most characteristics of organisms are inherited. b. Offspring vary among each other in regard to their characteristics. c. Some generations of offspring do not need to compete for resources. d. Certain traits will be better represented in the next generation
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