Chapter 24.
The Origin of Species
“Both in space and time, we seem to be brought somewhat near to that great fact—that mystery of mysteries—the first appearance of new beings on this Earth.” AP Biology 2004-2005 — Darwin
1 Essential Questions . How and why do new species originate?
AP Biology 2004-2005
2 What is a species? . Biological species concept
defined by Ernst Mayr
population whose members can interbreed & produce viable, fertile offspring
reproductively compatible
AP Biology 2004-2005
3 Biological species concept
Eastern Meadowlark Western Meadowlark Similar body & colorations, but are distinct biological species because their songs & other behaviors are different enough to
AP Biology prevent interbreeding 2004-2005
4 Diversity & Taxonomy . The Tree of Life species are the smallest unit at the ends of branches basic unit for organizing & categorizing living things smallest unit by which we measure diversity AP Biology 2004-2005
5 Reproductive isolation . Species concept hinges on reproductive isolation
biological barriers that impede members from producing viable offspring
before vs. after fertilization . pre-zygotic barriers (before the zygote) . post-zygotic barriers (after the zygote)
AP Biology 2004-2005
6 Prezygotic barriers . Impede mating or hinder fertilization if mating occurs
habitat isolation
temporal isolation
behavioral isolation
mechanical isolation
gametic isolation
AP Biology 2004-2005
7 Habitat isolation . Two species may occupy different habitats within same area so may encounter each other rarely
2 species of garter snake, Thamnophis, occur in same area, but one lives in water & other is terrestrial
AP Biology 2004-2005
8 Temporal isolation . Species that breed during different times of day, different seasons, or different years cannot mix gametes
Eastern spotted skunk (L) & western spotted skunk (R) overlap in range but eastern mates in late winter & western
AmP aBtioelosg yin late summer 2004-2005
9 Behavioral isolation . Courtship rituals that attract mates & other unique behaviors to a species are effective reproductive barriers
Blue footed boobies mate only after a courtship display
AP uBinolioqgyue to their species 2004-2005
The most comedic species of the Galapagos Islands is the Blue Footed Booby, what a ridiculous outfit and expression! Their name is in fact taken from the Spanish 'bobo' which means clown. The Blue Footed Boobies above display part of their humorous courtship ritual whereby they raise their feet one at a time and then swivel their heads away from the prospective mate looking to the sky. Other interesting Booby features are the highly evolved airbag systems in their skulls which allow them to dive bomb into the sea for fish from great height, and the egg and hatchling nesting boundaries they make which are rings of Boobie poop. They aren't the only Booby on the island — there are also Masked and Red Footed Boobies about.
10 Gray-Crowned Cranes engaged in courtship display, Kenya
What can you say? AP Biology 2004-2005
11 Mechanical isolation . Morphological differences can prevent successful mating
Even in closely related species of plants, the flowers often have distinct appearances that attract different pollinators. These 2 species of monkey flower differ greatly in shape & color, therefore cross-pollination does not happen.
AP Biology 2004-2005
The most comedic species of the Galapagos Islands is the Blue Footed Booby, what a ridiculous outfit and expression! Their name is in fact taken from the Spanish 'bobo' which means clown. The Blue Footed Boobies above display part of their humorous courtship ritual whereby they raise their feet one at a time and then swivel their heads away from the prospective mate looking to the sky. Other interesting Booby features are the highly evolved airbag systems in their skulls which allow them to dive bomb into the sea for fish from great height, and the egg and hatchling nesting boundaries they make which are rings of Boobie poop. They aren't the only Booby on the island — there are also Masked and Red Footed Boobies about.
12 Mechanical isolation . For many insects, male & female sex organs of closely related species do not fit together, preventing sperm transfer
lack of “fit” between sexual organs: hard to imagine for us, but a big issue for insects with different shaped genitals!
Damsel fly penises AP Biology 2004-2005
The selection is intense because it directly affects offspring production -- it is affecting sex itself
13 Gametic isolation . Sperm of 1 species may not be able to fertilize eggs of another species
variety of mechanisms . chemical incompatibility sperm cannot survive in female reproductive tract . biochemical barrier so sperm cannot penetrate egg
Sea urchins release sperm & eggs into surrounding waters where they fuse & form zygotes. Gametes of different species—red & purple —are unable to fuse. AP Biology 2004-2005
14 Postzygotic barriers . prevent hybrid zygote from developing into a viable, fertile adult
reduced hybrid viability
reduced hybrid fertility
hybrid breakdown
AP Biology zebroid 2004-2005
15 Reduced hybrid viability . Genes of different parent species may interact & impair the hybrid’s development
Species of salamander genus, Ensatina, may interbreed, but most hybrids do not complete development & those that do are frail.
AP Biology 2004-2005
16 Reduced hybrid fertility . Even if hybrids are vigorous they may be sterile chromosomes of parents may difier in number or structure & meiosis in hybrids may fail to produce normal gametes
Mule are vigorous, but sterile
Horses have 64 Donkeys have 62 chromosomes chromosomes AP Biology Mule have 63 chromosomes! 2004-2005
What’s wrong with having 63 chromosomes? Odd number! Cannot pair up in meiosis.
17 Habitat breakdown . Hybrids may be fertile & viable in first generation, but when they mate offspring are feeble or sterile
Strains of cultivated rice has accumulated recessive alleles. Hybrids are vigorous but plants in next generation are small & sterile. OAnP Bpioaltohgy to separate species. 2004-2005
18 Speciation . Species are created by a series of evolutionary processes
populations become isolated . reproductively isolated . geographically isolated
isolated populations evolve independently . Isolation
allopatric
sympatric
AP Biology 2004-2005
19 Allopatric speciation . Allopatric = “other country”
geographic separation . migration . physical barrier
Harris’s antelope squirrel inhabits the canyon’s south rim (L). Just a few miles away on the north rim (R) lives the closely related white–tailed AP Biology antelop2e0 0s4q-2u00i5rrel
20 Sympatric speciation . Sympatric = “same country”
isolation even though members of population remain in contact
what causes this isolation? . chromosomal changes polyploidy
mostly in plants
oats, cotton, potatoes, tobacco, wheat . non-random mating
AP Biology 2004-2005
21 Adaptive radiation . Evolution of many diversely adapted species when introduced to various new environmental challenges & opportunities
Drosophila
Geospiza
AP Biology 2004-2005
22 Adaptive radiation in plants
all descended Silversword alliance from a common AP Biology ancesto2r0 054-m20y05a
23 Adaptive radiation . Many ecological niches open . Evolution of many diversely-adapted species from a common ancestor to fill niches
Darwin’s finches
mammals
AP Biology 2004-2005
24 Review . Speciation is a process populations become isolated . geographic isolation different environmental conditions: food, predators, disease, habitat different selection pressures genetic drift . reproductive isolation different selection pressures: sexual selection isolated populations evolve independently
AP Biology 2004-2005
25 Current debate . Does speciation happen gradually or rapidly perhaps in response to environmental change
Gradualism . Charles Darwin . Charles Lyell
Punctuated equilibrium . Stephen Jay Gould . Niles Eldredge
Niles Eldredge Curator AP Biology American Museum of Nat2u00r4a-l2 0H05istory
26 Gradualism . Gradual divergence over long spans of time
assume that big changes occur as the accumulation of many small ones
AP Biology 2004-2005
27 Punctuated Equilibrium . Rate of speciation is not constant
species undergo most change when they 1st bud from parent population
as separate species, remain static for long periods of time
AP Biology 2004-2005
28 Stephen Jay Gould (1941-2002) . Harvard paleontologist & evolutionary biologist punctuated equilibrium prolific author . popularized evolutionary thought
AP Biology 2004-2005
Stephen Jay Gould (September 10, 1941 – May 20, 2002) w as a New York- born American paleontologist, evolutionary biologist, and historian of science. He w as the most influential and w idely read w riter of popular science of his generation. He served as a member of the faculty at Harvard University beginning in 1967. Tow ard the end of his life he served as the Alexander Agassiz Professor of Zoology at that university. He helped Niles Eldredge develop Eldredge's theory of punctuated equilibrium 1972, w herein evolutionary change occurs relatively rapidly in comparatively brief periods of environmental stress, separated by longer periods of evolutionary stability. According to Gould, this overthrew a key tenet of neo-Darw inism; according to most evolutionary biologists, the theory w as an important insight but merely modified neo-Darw inism in a w ay fully compatible w ith w hat had been know n before. Gould became w idely know n through his popular science essays in Natural History magazine, collections of essays like The Panda's Thumb and The Flamingo's Smile, and extended studies like Wonderful Life and others.Gould w as an emphatic advocate of evolution and w rote prolifically on the subject, trying to communicate his understanding of contemporary evolutionary theory to a w ide audience. A recurring theme in his w ritings is the history and development of evolutionary (and pre-evolutionary) thinking. His early research involved the study of the fossil record of snails (detailed in one of his essays). He w as also an enthusiastic baseball fan and made frequent references to the sport (including an entire essay) and a very w ide range of other topics.
29 AP Biology 2004-2005
30 Evolution is not goal-oriented An evolutionary trend does not mean that evolution is goal oriented. The modern horse is the only surviving twig of an evolutionary bush with many divergent trends.
AP Biology 2004-2005
31 Convergent evolution . Flight evolved 3 separate times
evolving similar solutions to similar “problems”
AP Biology 2004-2005
32 Parallel Evolution . parallel paths . filling similar niches therefore exhibit similar adaptations
but are not closely related
AP Biology 2004-2005
33 Coevolution . Predator-prey relationships . Parasite-host relationships . Flowers & pollinators
AP Biology 2004-2005
34 Darwin Awards Named in honor of Charles Darwin, the father of evolution, the Darwin Awards commemorate those who improve our gene pool by removing themselves from it. The Darwin Awards salute the improvement of the human genome by honoring those who accidentally kill themselves in really stupid ways. Of necessity, this honor is generally bestowed posthumously. www.DarwinAwards.com
AP Biology 2004-2005
35