Question

1. (i) Explain why it is important to assign individuals to species. (ii) What is a species concept? (iii) Name and formally define one species concept. (iv) Explain ONE of the weaknesses associated with the concept named in (iii). Critically discuss the question of what is a species? please NO hand writing. explain in more details.  

Answer 1

1. It is important to assign individuals to a species so that it is known that which individuals will be able to copulate with which ones to produce viable offsprings. Individuals of a species are more likely to relate to other members of their own species and form bonds, tribes and offer protection against predators. It helps to increase or control the population of a particular species and study the interrelation among various individuals of different species. Looking at different individuals separately mostly yields the same result (as they have similar characteristics) and is of little significance unless there are anomalies in some members of a species.

2.

The species concept is an attempt to define the members of the same species and differentiate them from those of another species. There are three major species concepts:

a. Biological Species Concept (individuals that are able to copulate and produce viable offsprings belong to same species)

b. Morphological species concept (individuals having similar morphological characters belong to the same species)

c. Phylogenetic species concept (individuals descended from a common ancestor belong to the same species)

3.

Biological species concept - Individuals that are able to copulate with each other to produce viable offsprings belongs to the same species while those are unable to do so belong to different species.

4.

Biological species concept cannot be utilized to describe fossil or extinct species, self-reproducing and asexually reproducing individuals.

5.

Species can be defined in several ways as discussed above. It depends on the type of organisms in a study that which concept will be used.

Species that reproduce by cross-fertilization to produce viable offsprings can be defined using biological species concept while those reproducing asexually of by self mating can be defined using morphological of the phylogenetic species concept.

Species therefore can be defined as individuals that either able to reproduce among themselves to produce viable offsprings or are morphologically similar if not same or share a common anscestor that have maintained their identity over the period of time without evolving.