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Biology Chapter 16.3
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Speciation | The formation of new species as a result of evolution. |
Morphology | The study of the structure and form of an organism. |
Biological Species Concept | The concept that a species is a population of organisms that can interbreed but cannot breed with other populations. |
Geographic Isolation | The physical separation of populations due to geographic barriers that prevent interbreeding. |
Allopatric Speciation | Happens when species arise as a result of geographic isolation. Allopatric means different homelands. |
Reproductive Isolation | The inability of members of a population to successfully interbreed with members of another population of the same or a related species. |
Prezygotic Isolation | Occurs before fertilization. |
Postzygotic Isolation | Occurs after fertilization. |
Sympatric Speciation | Occurs when two subpopulations become reproductively isolated within same geographic area. |
Gradualism | A model of evolution in which gradual change over a long period of time leads to biological diversity. |
Punctuated Equilibrium | A model of evolution in which short periods of drastic change in species, including mass extinctions and rapid speciation, are separated by long periods of little or no change. |