15.2 Species and Speciation Overview

1. 15.2 Species and Speciation Overview • Evolution • Results of evolution • New species (speciation) • Causes of evolution • Barriers between same species (gene pools) • Geographical isolation -> leads to allopatric speciation • Temporal isolation -> leads to sympatric speciation • Behavioral isolation -> leads to sympatric speciation • Hybridization -> leads to sympatric speciation • Types of Evolution • Adaptive radiation • Convergent evolution • Divergent evolution • Pace of Evolution • Gradualism • Punctuated equilibrium

2. Gene pool – all of the genetic information present in the reproducing members of a population at a given time • A large gene pool exists in a population which shows high variation • A small gene pool exists in a population which shows little variation (ex: inbreeding)

3. Allele frequency – measure of the proportion of a specific variation (allele) of a gene in a population; this can be stated as a proportion or a percent • Remember, Hardy-Weinberg discussed this in terms of p and q where: p = frequency of the dominant allele q = frequency of the recessive allele and together p + q = 1 • If there are no changes in allele frequency over time, then no evolution • If there is big change in allele frequency over time, evolution has occurred

4. Review of what can change allele frequencies (and therefore the gene pool) within a population: • Mutations • Immigration and emigration • Nonrandom mating (ex: inbreeding/selective breeding) • Some alleles are more advantageous than other alleles • The population is small and therefore the allele frequencies are easier to manipulate

5. Species – the basic unit for classifying an organism • A species is made up of organisms which: • Have the ability to interbreed and produce fertile offspring • Share the same ecological niche • Have the same karyotypes • Have a common phylogeny (share common ancestor(s)) • Share a unique collection of structural and functional characteristics

6. Barriers between Gene Pools Barriers may exist where populations of members of the same species can be stopped from reproducing together; such barriers can be geographical, temporal, behavioral, or related to infertility caused by hybridization This slide is an overview of what is to come, no need to write it down!

8. Allopatric Speciation • When a new species forms from an existing species due to a geographic barrier

9. 1. Geographical Isolation Type of Allopatric Speciation! • Occurs when physical barriers such as land or water formations prevent mating • Ex: tree snails in Hawaii, 1 population lives on trees on one side of a volcano, the other population lives on trees on the other side of the volcano

10. Sympatric Speciation • When a new species is formed from an existing species while living in the same geographic area • This is much rarer than allopatric speciation

11. 1. Temporal Isolation Type of Sympatric Speciation • Occurs when two populations mate or flower at different times of the year • Ex: the female parts of one flower’s population reach maturity before the pollen of another flower’s population gets released • Ex: one population of mammals is still hibernating while another population is ready to mate

12. 2. Behavioral Isolation Type of Sympatric Speciation • Occurs when one population’s lifestyle and habits are not compatible with those of another population • Ex: many birds rely on courtship displays to attract mates; if one population has a version of the courtship display which is significantly different from another population, they may not consider each other to be seductive enough to mate with

13. 3. Hybrids • Hybrids are typically infertile and therefore cannot pass on their karyotype • This goes for plants and animals • female horse + male donkey = mule • male horse + female donkey = hinny • female tiger + male lion = liger • male tiger + female lion = tigon

14. How polyploidy leads to speciation: • Speciation is when a population evolves significantly enough so that the production of offspring with the original population becomes impossible • Haploid – sex cells are monoploidy (n) • Diploid – somatic cells are diploidy (2n) • Polyploidy = more than 2 sets of chromosomes; 3n, 4n, 5n, ect. • Ploidy changes among angiosperms are common including banana tree, tobacco plant, apple trees • Also seen in animal kingdom with salamanders, frogs, and leeches

15. Studies have shown after polyploidy formation rapid changes in gene structure and expression can occur; if one population evolves enough to have significant change, then a new species can be formed • NOTE: two similarly polyploidy organisms can interbreed ex: 8n sugar cane with another 8n sugar cane