Speciation
[Link]
Mode of speciation
allopatric speciation : Geographic isolation
[Link]
Peripatric Speciation
• Peripatric Speciation
• Peripatric speciation is a special condition of allopatric speciation which occurs when
the size of the isolated subpopulation is small.
• In this case, in addition to geographic separation, genetic drift also plays an
important as genetic drift acts more quickly in small populations.
• The small isolated subpopulation might carry some rare genes which upon reaching
the new geographical region become fixed over the course of a few generations as a
result of genetic drift.
• As a result, the entire population of the new region ends up having these rare genes.
• Over time, new genetic characters, as well as natural selection, cause the survival of
individuals which are better suited to the climate and food of the new region.
• Finally, under the influence of all these factors, new species are formed.
• However, it is very difficult to explain what role genetic drift played in the divergence
of the two populations, which makes gathering evidence to support or refute this
mode very challenging.
Parapatric Speciation
• Parapatric Speciation
• Parapatric speciation is a mode of speciation in which there is no extrinsic
barrier between the population but, the large geographic range of the
population causes the individuals to mate with the neighboring individuals
than with the individuals in a different part of the geographical range.
• In this case, the population is continuous, but the population doesn’t mate
randomly.
• Here, the genetic variation occurs as a result of reduced gene flow within the
population and varying selection pressures across the population’s range.
• This occurs in population which is distributed over a large geographical
range. Thus, the individuals in the far west region cannot mate with the
individuals in the far east region.
• Through a few generations, new species might be formed within the existing
population.
Sympatric Speciation
• Sympatric speciation is the process of the formation of new species from an original
population that are not geographically isolated.
• It is based on the establishment of new populations of a species in different ecological niches
and the reproductive isolation of founders of the new population from the individuals of the
source population.
• Gene flow between daughter and parental population during sympatric speciation is postulated
to be inhibited by intrinsic factors, such as chromosomal changes and non-random mating.
• Exploiting a new niche might automatically reduce gene flow with individuals exploiting a
different niche.
• This mode of speciation is common in herbivore insects when they begin feeding and mating
on a new plant or when a new plant is introduced within the geographical range of the species.
• The gene flow is then reduced between the species that specialize in a particular plant which
might ultimately lead to the formation of new species.
• The selection resulting in specialization needs to be really strong for the population to diverge.
• Thus, sympatric speciation is a sporadic event in multicellular organisms or randomly mating
populations.
Examples
Speciation Example
Allopatric Darwin’s finches, Grand Canyon Squirrels
Peripatric The Australian bird Petroica multicolour and London
Underground mosquito, a variant of
the mosquito Culex pipiens
Parapatric grass species Anthoxanthum odoratum where some
species living near the mine. however, other plants
that don’t live around the mines are not tolerant.
But because the plants are close together, they could
fertilize each other and result in a new species.
Sympatric Sympatric speciation is observed in apple maggot flies
which 200 years ago laid eggs and bred only on
hawthorns but now lays eggs on both hawthorns and
domestic apples.
As a result, gene flow between parts of the population
that mate on different types of fruit is reduced, and in
fewer than 200 years, some genetic differences
between these two groups of flies have evolved.
Notes
• [Link]
Rates of Speciation
In the gradual speciation model, species diverge gradually over time in small
steps. In the punctuated equilibrium model, a new species undergoes changes
quickly from the parent species, and then remains largely unchanged for long
periods of time afterward (Fig 17).
We call this early change model punctuated equilibrium, because it begins
with a punctuated or periodic change and then remains in balance afterward.
While punctuated equilibrium suggests a faster tempo, it does not necessarily
exclude gradualism.
In (a) gradual speciation, species diverge at a slow, steady pace as traits change
incrementally. In (b) punctuated equilibrium, species diverge quickly and then remain
unchanged for long periods of time.
