5 Questions
What is microtaxonomy primarily concerned with?
Classification of organisms at the species level
Who first recognized varieties in botany in 1751?
Carolus Linnaeus
Allopatric speciation occurs when populations of the same species are geographically isolated from each other.
True
Sympatric speciation occurs when new species evolve from a single ancestral species within the same geographic area without any ______ barriers to gene flow.
physical
Match the scientist with their contribution to infraspecific categories:
Carolus Linnaeus = Recognized variations Friedrich Anton Wilhelm Miquel = First used the term form Christiaan Hendrik Persoon = Recognized subspecies in botany Henry Bates = Recognized subspecies in zoology
Study Notes
Microtaxonomy and Infraspecific Categories
- Microtaxonomy is a branch of taxonomy that focuses on the classification and categorization of organisms at the species level and below.
- It involves the study of subtle variations, morphological traits, genetic differences, and ecological adaptations among individuals or populations within a species.
History of Infraspecific Categories
- Carolus Linnaeus recognized varieties in 1751 and used the category frequently in his book Species Plantarum (1753).
- Christiaan Hendrik Persoon recognized subspecies in botany in his book Synopsis Plantarum (1805-1807).
- Friedrich Anton Wilhelm Miquel used the term "form" in 1843.
- Henry Bates recognized subspecies in zoology in 1861.
Infraspecific Ranks
- Subspecies: a category used in both botany and zoology to describe populations that are genetically distinct but can still interbreed.
- Variety: a category used in botany to describe plants with distinct morphological traits.
- Form: a category used in botany to describe minor variations in plant morphology.
Speciation
- Speciation is the process by which new species arise.
- There are four primary modes of speciation: allopatric, peripatric, parapatric, and sympatric.
- Allopatric speciation occurs when populations become geographically isolated, leading to genetic divergence and reproductive isolation.
- Peripatric speciation is a special case of allopatric speciation in which a small peripheral population becomes isolated and undergoes genetic drift.
- Parapatric speciation occurs when populations occupy adjacent but distinct habitats, leading to genetic divergence and reproductive isolation.
- Sympatric speciation occurs when new species evolve from a single ancestral species within the same geographic area without physical barriers to gene flow.
Examples of Infraspecific Categories
- Sovia lucasii: a species with a new subspecies, S. lucasii minor, found in the northeastern and eastern parts of the Sichuan Basin in China.
- Cautleya gracilis: a species with a new variety, C. gracilis var. hispida, which exhibits environmentally induced variation.
References
- Zhai et al. (2017): DNA barcoding-based sexual association of Sovia lucasii and S. lii (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae), with description of a new subspecies.
- Aishwarya et al. (2021): Taxonomic revision of the genus Cautleya (Zingiberaceae) in India with a description of a new variety.
- Vinarski (2015): The Fate of Subspecies Category in Zoological Systematics.
- Stuessy (2009): Plant Taxonomy: The Systematic Evaluation of Comparative Data.
This quiz covers the basics of microtaxonomy, a branch of taxonomy that focuses on the classification of organisms at the species level, including the study of subtle variations and genetic differences.
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