Chapter 24: The Origin of Species (Macroevolution)

species

a population or group of populations whose members have the potential to interbreed in nature and produce viable, fertile offspring but do not produce viable, fertile offspring with members of other such groups

autopolyploid

an individual that has more than two chromosome sets that are all derived from a single species

ex. seedless watermelon (3n) produced by crossing a tetraploid and diploid plant

sympatric speciation

the formation of new species in populations that live in the same geographic area

ex. hawthorn flies only laid eggs on hawthorn fruit, when apples were introduced some began to produce on apples, apple and hawthorn groups became reproductively isolated

ecological species concept

a definition of species in terms of ecological niche, the sum of how members of the species interact with the nonliving and living parts of their environment