Question

discuss the biological species concept and provide an example. summarise clearly in one paragraph

Answer 1

The biological species concept defines a species as a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring under natural conditions, thereby sharing a common gene pool. This concept emphasizes reproductive isolation as a key mechanism that prevents different species from interbreeding, which can result from various barriers such as behavioral, temporal, or geographical differences. An example of this is the Eastern and Western meadowlarks (Sturnella magna and Sturnella neglecta), which can be found in overlapping geographical ranges in North America. Despite their similar appearances, they do not interbreed due to differences in their mating songs, illustrating how reproductive isolation maintains distinct species within the same habitat.