Assignment: SCIE211 Phase 2 Lab Report

Running Head: Allopatric Speciation

Allopatric Speciation

Allopathic Speciation

Course

Tutor

Institution

Date

Environmental Lab (phase ii)

Introduction

Speciation is the process by which new species arise through evolutionary processes. New species arise via a number of mechanisms referred to as modes of speciation. These are classified into three: allopathic, parapatric and sympatric speciation.

Purpose

This paper is a lab report sought to uniquely explain the allopathic mechanism of speciation. It attempts to answer what would happen to a species in a population if such were split into two by a geographical process like earthquake creating a physical barrier. (Coyne, & Orr 2004).

Hypothesis

The barrier creates a separation that causes each of the individual species to evolve into new other species.

Assumptions

The barrier created was such that there is no total or partial mixing of the two groups of a population. It is also assumed that each of the two created geographical regions has conditions necessary for survival of both of the two groups. (Darwin & Quammen 2008).

Discussion

A major factor fueling divergence of species into two or more other types is having a barrier to the flow of genes. This means there wont be interbreeding between populations and hence no gene pool sharing. In the case provided here, the geographic isolation will result into reproductive isolation forming new species. This mechanism is taken as the main mechanism of speciation. (Nosil 2012).

Conclusion

Creation of a barrier to gene flow is required for speciation to occur. Under allopatric mode, populations become isolated geographically isolated. They are exposed to various conditions and in response diverge genetically such that they will be unable to interbreed incase their ranges overlap later. A plant or animal species separated this way will yield new species with time.

References

Coyne, J. A., & Orr, H. A. (2004). Speciation. Sunderland, Mass: Sinauer Associates.

Darwin, C., & Quammen, D. (2008). On the origin of species. New York: Sterling.

Nosil, P. (2012). Ecological speciation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.