SPECIATION

The formation of new species is called speciation. OR Speciation is the process of formation
of a new genetically independent group of organisms, called species, through the course of
evolution.
•The process of splitting of genetically homogenous population into two or more populations
that undergo genetic differentiation and eventual reproductive isolation is called speciation.
•The entire course of evolution depends upon the origin of new populations (species) that have
greater adaptive efficiency than their ancestors.
Speciation occurs in two ways.
1.Transformation of old species into new species over time.
2.Splitting of a single species into several, that is the multiplication of species.

The subpopulations are prevented from breeding. This is called reproductive isolation. Natural
selection and genetic drift act on reproductively isolated populations. Therefore, the evolution
takes a different course in these subpopulations.

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 TYPES OF SPECIATION
1. Allopatric (“Other Country”) Speciation
The speciation occurs when subpopulations become geographically isolated from one another is
called allopatric speciation. OR
In allopatric speciation, gene flow is interrupted or reduced when a population is divided into
geographically isolated subpopulations
For example, a mountain range or river permanently separate members of a population. Adaptations for
different environments or neutral selection take place in these separate populations. The members of this
population cannot reproduce successfully with each other. Many biologists believe that allopatric
speciation is the most common kind of speciation.
• Regions with many geographic barriers typically have more species than do regions with fewer
barriers
• Reproductive isolation between populations generally increases as the distance between them
increases. For example, reproductive isolation increases between dusky salamanders that live further
apart
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 Allopatric Speciation
•Allopatric speciation is the mode of speciation in which the original population is divided into two by a barrier
resulting in reproductive isolation.
•The model for allopatric speciation was presented by Mayr.
•It is based on the concept that new species arise when some physical geographic barrier divides the large
population of a species into two or more small populations.
•The individuals of these isolated populations cannot interbreed because of their physical isolation.
•Physical isolation might occur either due to physical barriers like vast expanses of ocean, high mountains,
glaciers, deep river valleys, wide rivers or deserts, or a considerable distance due to a larger geographical range.
•Each isolated population starts to adapt to their separated environments while accumulating differences and
evolving independently into new species.
•Allopatric speciation can occur even in cases in which the barrier allows some individuals to cross the barrier to
mate with the members of the other groups.
•For speciation even to be considered “allopatric,” gene flow between the soon-to-be species must be significantly
reduced—but it doesn’t have to be entirely reduced to zero.
Examples of Allopatric speciation
•The classic example of allopatric speciation is that of Darwin’s finches. The divergent populations of finches
inhabiting the Galapagos Islands were observed to have differences in features such as body size, color, and beak
length or shape. The differences resulted because of the different types of food available in various Islands.
•Another example is of Grand Canyon Squirrels which were separated during the formation of the Grand Canyon
and resulted in two different species of squirrels.
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 Allopatric speciation in Darwinian finches
The Darwinian finches on the Galapagos Islands are example of allopatric speciation and adaptive
radiation. A number of new forms diverge from an ancestral form during adaptive radiation. These
adaptations occur in response to the opening of major new habitats. Fourteen species of finches
evolved from the original finches in the Galapagos Islands. Ancestral finches emigrated from the
mainland. They were distributed among a few of the islands of the Galapagos. Their populations
became isolated on various islands overtime. The original population displayed some genetic
variation. More variation arises these ancestral populations. The original finches were seed eaten.
They arrived in islands of Galapagos. They filled their habitat rapidly. Variations occur within
original finch population. So some birds started exploiting new islands and habitats. Mutation
changed the genetic composition of the isolated finch populations. It introduced further variations.
Natural selection favored some variations. These variations promoted successful reproduction.
The combined forces of isolation, mutation, and natural selection developed many adaptations in
these finches. These adaptations allowed the finches to diverge into a number of species. These
species have specialized feeding habits. Six of the 14 species of finches have beaks specialized for
crushing of seeds of different sizes. Other finches feed on flowers of the prickly cactus. Some other
feed on forests on insects and fruit.

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Adaptive radiation in Galapagos finches

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Figure 24.5

(a) Allopatric speciation. (b) Sympatric speciation.

A population forms a A subset of a population
new species while forms a new species
geographically isolated without geographic
from its parent population. separation.
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 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 role 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.
Examples of Peripatric speciation
• The Australian bird Petroica multicolour and London Underground mosquito, a variant of
the mosquito Culex pipiens, which entered in the London Underground in the 19th century are the
examples of Peripatric speciation 7
 Sympatric (Same Country) Speciation
In sympatric speciation, speciation takes place in geographically overlapping populations.
Speciation that Occurs in populations that have overlapping ranges is called sympatric speciation. The
sympatric organism may be reproductively isolated from one another.
• 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.
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 Sympatric Speciation
Causes of sympatric speciation:
 Habitat differentiation: Sympatric speciation can also result from the appearance of new ecological niches.
For example, the North American maggot fly can live on native hawthorn trees as well as more recently
introduced apple trees.
 Sexual selection: Sexual selection can drive sympatric speciation. Sexual selection for mates of different
colors has likely contributed to speciation in cichlid fish in Lake Victoria

Examples of Sympatric speciation

 Many plant species develop multiple sets of chromosomes. These plants can produce viable forms. It can
produce sympatric species among groups in the same habitat.
 Sympatric speciation in animals is uncommon. It has been found in two species of bats and several species
of insects and fish.
 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.
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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.
The speciation occurs in small local population called demes is called Parapatric
speciation. Deme is a small and local population.
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.

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 Examples of Parapatric speciation
The grass species Anthoxanthum odoratum where some species living near the mine have
become tolerant to heavy metals; 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.
For example, all of the frogs in a particular pond or all of the sea urchins in a particular tide pool
make up a deme. Individuals of one deme are more likely to breed with one another than with
other individuals in the larger population. They experience the same environment. So they face
similar selection pressures. The individuals, developmental stages, or gametes can move among
the demes of a population. Therefore, the demes are not completely isolated from each other.
But these demes face relative isolation. Its members experience different selection pressures
than other members of the population. So speciation can occur in them. Most evolutionists
theoretically agree that parapatric speciation is possible. But no certain cases are known.
Therefore, parapatric speciation has less importance in the evolution of animal groups than
allopatric speciation.
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Types of speciation

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 Allopatric and Sympatric Speciation: A Review
• In allopatric speciation, geographic isolation restricts gene flow
between populations.
• Speciation occurs because a given group has been separated from
the parent group, usually because of a geographic separation as time
goes by.
• Reproductive isolation may then arise by natural selection, genetic
drift, or sexual selection in the isolated populations
• Even if contact is restored between populations, interbreeding is
prevented.

• In sympatric speciation, a reproductive barrier isolates a subset of a

population without geographic separation from the parent species.
• speciation occurs even though the two groups are still living in the
same area.
• Sympatric speciation can result from polyploidy, natural selection,
or sexual selection
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