Speciation
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| - | '''Speciation''' is the process by which new distinct species | + | '''Speciation''' is the [[Evolution|evolutionary]] process by which new distinct species arise in [[Evolutionary System|evolutionary systems]]. A species is a reproductively isolated, independent evolutionary unit which occupies a certain [[Niche|niche]]. In the course of [[Evolution|evolution]], a lineage of a species can split into two or more. The branching points in the [[Phylogenetic Tree|phylogenetic tree]] mark the speciation events, where a new species emerges. A main reason for speciation in biology is geographical and reproductive isolation. |
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| + | The major cause of speciation in biological systems is geographical separation or isolation, the four major types of speciation in nature are based on the extent to which speciating populations are geographically isolated from one another: allopatric, peripatric, parapatric, and sympatric. | ||
== Links == | == Links == | ||
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* [http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/evo_44 Reproductive isolation] | * [http://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/evo_44 Reproductive isolation] | ||
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| + | * A seminal paper from John Maynard Smith on speciation, touching upon the dogma that speciation requires geographical separation. | ||
| + | [http://www.nature.com/nature/focus/maynardsmith/pdf/1962.pdf Disruptive selection, polymorphism and sympatric speciation] | ||
[[Category:Evolutionary Principles]] | [[Category:Evolutionary Principles]] | ||
