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Ernst Mayr Species Concept Significance in Biology Exam Guide
Biological species defined by reproductive isolation—interbreeding populations producing fertile offspring, not just shared traits or adaptation—fundamental for taxonomy, evolution, conservation in General Biology certification prep.
Question
Define the concept of species in biology and its significance.
A. Species are organisms that cannot reproduce with other groups.
B. Species are groups of organisms sharing common characteristics.
C. Species are defined by their ability to adapt to new environments.
D. Species are groups of organisms with the same color pattern.
Answer
A. Species are organisms that cannot reproduce with other groups.
Explanation
The biological species concept, primarily defined by Ernst Mayr, classifies a species as a group of actually or potentially interbreeding natural populations reproductively isolated from other such groups, meaning members produce viable, fertile offspring with each other but not with organisms from distinct species due to prezygotic (e.g., behavioral mating rituals, temporal isolation, mechanical incompatibility) or postzygotic (e.g., hybrid inviability, sterility like mules) barriers, ensuring genetic integrity and divergence over evolutionary time. This definition holds particular significance in biology for delineating biodiversity units in taxonomy, conservation (e.g., prioritizing endangered reproductively distinct populations), evolutionary studies (tracking speciation via isolation mechanisms), and ecology (analyzing niche partitioning), though limitations exist for asexual organisms (using morphological or phylogenetic alternatives), fossils, or hybrids, prompting supplemental concepts like ecological or cladistic species definitions. Options B and D describe superficial traits insufficient for delimitation, while C confuses individual adaptation with population-level reproductive cohesion.