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It is difficult to perform experiments that test hypotheses about how new species form. But what if people lived for a really long time? Design an experiment lasting 100,000 years to test whether allopatric separation leads to
To design:
An experiment which lasts 100,000 years to test whether allopatric separation leads to speciation, and what would be the organism of study, and why that particular organism is chosen. Also, to determine how often experiment would be measured, and expectation related to finding if the allopatric speciation hypothesis is correct.
Introduction:
Speciation means the formation of a new species from the pre-existing ones. Allopatric speciation occurs when geographic isolation creates reproductive barrier among the individuals of the same population.
Explanation of Solution
Hypothesis: Allopatric speciation is correct.
Experimental animal: Drosophila, as it fulfills the conditions as an experimental animal, which must have a known genetic sequence and short lifespan of about 30 days.
Experiment: To test the hypothesis that the allopatric speciation is correct.
Method: Same species of Drosophila are collected from the same geographical environment, and divided into three groups: two experimental groups and one control group.
The two experiment groups are isolated in two different geographical areas, whereas the control group is kept in the same geographical environment.
Measure: The experiment is screened every 30 days in every new generation in order to obtain data about the traits gained and the traits eliminated in all three groups.
Analysis: Along the generations, each experimental group emerged with different characters and accumulated changes in genetic composition in comparison to the control group.
Finding: After 100, 000 years, along with the generations, the accumulated changes in both experimental groups lead to speciation.
Drosophila would be the study organism for allopatric speciation, as it has a very short lifespan and its genetic composition is known. The result of the experiment is measured after every generation.
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Chapter 17 Solutions
Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology (11th Edition)
- The biological species concept depends on the existence of barriers to reproduction. What are they? Does this species concept apply in all situations? Think of an example from nature where the biological species concept would NOT be that applicable. Which species concept would be better in this example? How does speciation occur? What environmental factors might contribute to speciation? Can an individual speciate? Use terminology for the two kinds of speciation we have learned about. What is “gene flow”? What does it mean if there is NO gene flow? Two groups of individuals are separated by either side of a canyon. One researcher found that they do not cross the canyon at any point. The group on the north side have fluffy tails and thicker coats, and they do not eat moss. The south side individuals eat moss almost exclusively, have a thin coat and tail, but otherwise are generally identical. When in the lab they mated successfully, and the offspring of that mating also mated…arrow_forwardn which situation would it make sense to use the morphological species concept? When you are able to collect data about how individuals in your study use their habitat, but you are unable to determine if they interbreed When working with fossils from extinct organisms When you only have genetic data about each organism in your study When you are not able to collect data about how individuals in your study use their habitat, but you are able to collect reproductive dataarrow_forwardConsider this example. Shorebirds on the Eastern coast of North America feed on the mollusks and tiny crabs along the shore. Birds with tougher beaks are better adapted to crack open the shells of the mollusks, and birds with sharper beaks are better adapted to pierce the shells of crabs. Over time, the shorebirds become two separate species that no longer breed with one another. What type of speciation has occurred? A. Sympatric speciation B. Adaptive speciation C. Microevolution speciation D. Allopatric speciationarrow_forward
- A population of chipmunks lives across the length of a valley in the mountains. One day a large section of the mountain breaks off, and the resulting rockslide divides the valley in half. Over time, the chipmunks on either side of the rockslide evolve and become different species. What type of speciation is this?arrow_forwardWhat is the significance of the process of speciation to change in population from generation to generation? Explain the meaning of the theory referred to as "survival of the fittest". Why are the concepts of adaptations, survival and extinction closely related?arrow_forwardIs allopatric speciation more likely to occur on an island close to a mainland or on a more isolated island of the same size? Explain your prediction.arrow_forward
- How does one species diverge from another? (When do we call a group a new species—and how does that process happen?) Using anole lizards or another very specific example(s), compare and contrast microevolutionary processes with speciation. As you discuss speciation, be sure to compare and contrast sympatric speciation with allopatric speciation and say whether the example you’ve chosen is allopatric or sympatric.arrow_forwardHow is sympatric speciation different from allopatric speciation? Group of answer choices Allopatric speciation requires a geographic barrier, while sympatric speciation occurs in one place Allopatric speciation results in hybrids, while sympatric speciation does not Allopatric speciation is a result of behavioral isolation, while sympatric speciation is a result of habitat isolation Allopatric speciation occurs in one place, while sympatric speciation requires a geographic barrierarrow_forwardWhich of the following is a good description of Sympatric speciation? A. Speciation without geographic isolation B. Changes in sequence of DNA of an organism C. Speciation due to geographical isolation D. The change in the genetic characteristics of a population of organisms over timearrow_forward
- Given your knowledge of how species evolve, why is it not likely that speciation will occur in the majority of species on the planet as a result of climate change?arrow_forwardWhich of the following is least likely to be a process associated with sympatric speciation? A.) specialization on different food resources B.) specialization on different habitats C.) mutations that cause differences in pheromones D.) mutations that cause changes in ploidyarrow_forwardThe first step leading to allopatric speciation is (a) hybrid inviability (b) hybrid breakdown (c) adaptive radiation (d) geographic isolation (e) paedomorphosisarrow_forward
Biology (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781337392938Author:Eldra Solomon, Charles Martin, Diana W. Martin, Linda R. BergPublisher:Cengage Learning