Philosophical Perspectives on Species Definition

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What is the focus of microtaxonomy?

Classifying species hierarchically

Describing and recognizing species

Demarcating species (correct)

Understanding evolutionary factors

Which taxonomy is responsible for the first classification of species?

γ-taxonomy

β-taxonomy

α-taxonomy (correct)

Macrotaxonomy

How many species have been described so far?

~3 million

~8.7 million (correct)

~100 million

~1 million

Why is there uncertainty about the total number of species?

Human activities are causing extinctions before species can be discovered. Signup and view all the answers

According to Stuessy (2009), what role do species play in biological classification?

Building blocks for higher and lower group concepts Signup and view all the answers

What analogy does Worm (2011) use to emphasize the importance of knowing the number of species?

Population of a country Signup and view all the answers

According to Darwin in 1859, what did he find vague and arbitrary?

The distinction between species and varieties Signup and view all the answers

Which isolating mechanism prevents mating from occurring?

Prezygotic isolating mechanisms Signup and view all the answers

What is the key concept that helps us understand how species are formed?

Biological species concept Signup and view all the answers

What type of species concept is recommended with some qualifications for defining a species?

Biological species concept Signup and view all the answers

What do post-zygotic isolating mechanisms prevent?

Formation of a zygote Signup and view all the answers

Which term refers to a species that is found in only one location?

Endemic species Signup and view all the answers

According to Plato, how did he define 'Eidos' or 'species'?

Any unit possessing a common essence Signup and view all the answers

According to John Ray, what did he state about species and variations?

Set of individuals closely resembling each other and that it does not essentially differ from the term variety Signup and view all the answers

How did Linnaeus view species according to the text?

Created by God; possessed an essence in the Aristotelian and religious senses; deviant forms were not deserving to the rank of species but rather of variety Signup and view all the answers

How did Cuvier describe species based on the text?

'Specific form conditioned by function' Signup and view all the answers

According to Jordan, what constitutes a species within a community?

'Distinct breeding groups existing together within a community' Signup and view all the answers

What idea does the morphological species concept (MSC) support?

'Members of a species are individuals that look similar to each other.' Signup and view all the answers

What is the main challenge with assessing allopatric populations' potential for interbreeding?

Difficulty in determining if populations are interbreeding Signup and view all the answers

Which species concept defines a species as a lineage evolving separately with its own evolutionary role and tendencies?

Evolutionary Species Concept Signup and view all the answers

What advantage does the Evolutionary Species Concept offer in terms of hybridization?

Allows intermittent hybridization without affecting evolutionary trajectory Signup and view all the answers

Which concept defines a species as the smallest diagnosable monophyletic group sharing derived characters as evidence of descent?

Phylogenetic Species Concept Signup and view all the answers

What is a common problem associated with the Phylogenetic Species Concept?

Difficulty in determining evolutionary independence Signup and view all the answers

Why is hybridization not considered a major issue under the Evolutionary Species Concept?

It allows for hybridization without affecting the evolutionary trajectory Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of temporal isolation?

To ensure mating occurs during different times of day, seasons, or years Signup and view all the answers

Which post-zygotic mechanism involves hybrids failing to produce functional gametes?

Reduced hybrid fertility Signup and view all the answers

What type of speciation results in the branching out of a new species from a parent species?

Cladogenesis Signup and view all the answers

In which type of speciation does geographic isolation play a significant role?

Allopatric speciation Signup and view all the answers

What is the mechanism behind parapatric speciation?

Unequal dispersal or distribution leading to a small contact zone Signup and view all the answers

What is the result of allopatric speciation?

Population splitting due to geographical isolation Signup and view all the answers

What defines sympatric speciation?

Populations evolving in the same region without geographic isolation Signup and view all the answers

'Balanced polymorphisms' refer to __.

The presence of two variant forms of a specific DNA sequence within an individual Signup and view all the answers