Speciation

Speciation is the process by which new distinct species evolve in evolutionary systems. A species is a reproductively isolated, independent evolutionary unit. In the course of evolution, a lineage of a species can split into two or more. The branching points in the phylogenetic tree mark the speciation events, where a new species emerges. A main reason for speciation in biology is geographical and reproductive isolation.

Links

• Wikipedia entry for Speciation

• Reproductive isolation