Speciation: An important evolutionary process

Speciation is the evolutionary process by which populations evolve to become distinct species. It occurs when groups within a species become reproductively isolated and diverge genetically over time. This can result in the formation of new species with distinct characteristics that prevent interbreeding with the original population. Read here to learn more.

Speciation is how a new kind of plant or animal species is created. It occurs when a group within a species separates from other members of its species and develops its unique characteristics.

The demands of a different environment or the characteristics of the members of the new group will differentiate the new species from their ancestors.

Speciation

An example of speciation is the Galápagos finch. Different species of these birds live on different islands in the Galápagos archipelago, located in the Pacific Ocean off South America.

• The finches are isolated from one another by the ocean. Over millions of years, each species of finch developed a unique beak that is specially adapted to the kinds of food it eats.
• Some finches have large, blunt beaks that can crack the hard shells of nuts and seeds.
• Other finches have long, thin beaks that can probe into cactus flowers without the bird being poked by the cactus spines.
• Still, other finches have medium-sized beaks that can catch and grasp insects.
• Because they are isolated, the birds don’t breed with one another and have therefore developed into unique species with unique characteristics. This is called allopatric speciation.

Types of Speciation

There are five types: allopatric, peripatric, parapatric, sympatric and artificial.

1. Allopatric:
   • It occurs when populations are geographically separated, preventing gene flow between them.
   • Process: Physical barriers such as mountains, rivers, or distances isolate populations. Over time, genetic drift, mutation, and natural selection cause the populations to diverge.
   • Example: The formation of different species of Darwin’s finches on the Galápagos Islands.
2. Sympatric:
   • It occurs without geographic isolation; populations diverge while living in the same area.
   • Process: This can be driven by factors such as ecological niche differentiation, behavioural isolation, or polyploidy in plants (an increase in the number of chromosome sets).
   • Example: Cichlid fish in African lakes diversify based on different feeding strategies and habitats within the same lake.
3. Parapatric:
   • It occurs when populations are adjacent to each other, with limited interbreeding along a boundary zone.
   • Process: Gradual divergence occurs due to varying environmental conditions or selective pressures along the gradient. Hybrids in the overlap zone may be less fit, reinforcing isolation.
   • Example: Grass species that adapt to different soil types along a contamination gradient near mines.
4. Peripatric:
   • A subtype of allopatric speciation where a small population at the edge of a larger one becomes isolated.
   • Process: The small, isolated population undergoes rapid genetic changes due to genetic drift and founder effects, leading to divergence from the main population.
   • Example: The formation of new species on isolated islands from mainland populations.
5. Artificial:
   • It is the creation of new species by people. This is achieved through lab experiments, where scientists mostly research insects like fruit flies.

Significance of Speciation

• Biodiversity: It is the fundamental process that generates biodiversity. The formation of new species increases the variety of life forms and contributes to the complexity of ecosystems.
• Evolutionary Adaptation: Through speciation, populations can adapt to new and changing environments. This evolutionary flexibility allows life to thrive in diverse habitats and under varying environmental conditions.
• Ecological Niches: The emergence of new species often leads to the occupation of different ecological niches, promoting resource partitioning and reducing competition among species.
• Conservation Biology: Understanding speciation helps in conservation efforts by identifying evolutionarily significant units (ESUs) that need protection. This ensures the preservation of genetic diversity and the potential for future speciation events.
• Human Impacts: Human activities, such as habitat fragmentation and climate change, can influence speciation processes. Studying speciation helps predict and mitigate the impacts of these activities on biodiversity.
• Scientific Research: Speciation is a central concept in evolutionary biology and helps scientists understand the mechanisms of evolution, the history of life on Earth, and the relationships among species.

Why in the news?

Researchers at IIT Bombay discovered the role of environmental resources, genes and mating in species in the development of new species in the same area, challenging the traditional view that new species can develop only in distinct geographies.

• Traditionally, it is believed that speciation largely occurs when populations of a species are isolated from each other by geographical barriers such as mountains or bodies of water. This is called allopatric speciation.
• However, the new IIT Bombay research suggests that speciation can happen even when populations live in the same area without geographical barriers. This mode of speciation is called sympatric speciation.

Conclusion

Speciation is a crucial evolutionary process that leads to the formation of new species, contributing to the richness and diversity of life on Earth.

Understanding the mechanisms and significance of speciation helps in appreciating the dynamic nature of biodiversity, guiding conservation efforts, and providing insights into evolutionary processes

Related articles:

• Ecology and environment- important terminologies
• Mass extinctions

-Article by Swathi Satish