Blog Post Module 11

 I think the speed of speciation is not a set in stone. I think it depends on many factors such as resource availability, geographical location, relationship to other organisms and populations, predation, genetic similarities and differences, etc. I do think the speed of speciation varies between different modes of speciation. Speciation is typically a gradual process but I believe this could be sped up by instances of strong selection in subgroups of a species. If one group is located in a certain area and then a natural disaster occurs isolating them from the rest of the population, the way they adapt and evolve is going to be different based on their specific gene pool and environment. Allopatric speciation involves physical geographical barriers whereas sympatric speciation does not. This impacts the degree of pre-mating isolation and can therefore impact how species diverge. Additionally, polyploidization for instance leads to instant isolation from the ancestral species so the speciation process is dramatically sped up here. Whereas another mode of speciation such as behavioral or mechanical isolation may evolve after longer periods of time due to things like sexual conflict. Speciation is much less of an immediate effect in those cases. 

Hybridization is pretty complex. Different species can interbreed and novel offspring are created. Two species may be coming together but a completely different organism can arise. Hybrids can then be more or less fit impacting the way future evolution occurs. Hybrids can be sterile meaning they are not passing on their genetic material so that kind of puts a cap on the evolution that can occur because there is no heritability. Hybridization can also be a kick starter for speciation leading to completely different groups that change and evolve in their own manner based on unique genetic code. All of this is kind of over my head but I gave this post my best shot. Thanks for reading. 

Comments

  1. Casey WorleyNovember 9, 2021 at 11:54 AM

    Hello Emily,
    I enjoyed reading your blog post. From your insights, I gathered that the extrinsic factors, such as geographic isolation, predation, and resource availability contribute to more rapid speciation than do intrinsic factors, such as changes in the genetic code that lead to behavioral or mechanical isolation. This is an interesting point. Can you think of an instance where intrinsic factors lead to more rapid speciation than extrinsic factors? Great post all around!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Paige PNovember 12, 2021 at 10:51 AM

    I really like how you talked about polyploidization, I never would have thought to mention that. You are so right that this would immediately isolate the organism, but would that mean that another organism needs to have this as well for them to be able to reproduce? I have no idea, so I'm curious...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Allison MooreNovember 12, 2021 at 11:20 AM

    Hi Emily!
    I completely agree that speciation is not set and stone. I think you made a great point when discussing how a natural disaster could have effects on the speed of speciation. Hybridization is a very interesting effect as well, and I think it can get very confusing especially when the offspring are sterile.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Katie ENovember 12, 2021 at 12:44 PM

    Hello! I thought you gave a great description of how speciation can occur, and included a bunch of factors that could effect the rate of speciation that I didn't even think of! I am just curious to see what you think- which form of speciation do you think is most common, and which is the rarest?

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Blog Post Module 8

 Although selection is a major mechanism by which evolution functions, it is not even close to the only one. Selection, genetic drift, migration, mutation, non-random mating, and more play a role in creating the composition of populations. Selection may favor specific traits in organisms and then allow those to be passed on, but at any point in time the environment could shift causing those same traits to be unfavorable. And then selection will kick in once again and the allelic frequencies of that population will shift to better fit with the current circumstances. Short-term, selection might reduce genetic variation, but if you look at the big picture it really doesn't. Certain places might stay somewhat constant, but the world as a whole is constantly shifting and changing. One slight change could have major ramifications for selection and therefore the population as a whole. This isn't a one and done kind of thing.  Additionally, as I stated before, selection is only one pi...
Read more

Blog Post Module 10

 In most species we see males being colorful and displaying mating acts to court the females. In that case females are most often a drab dull color. However, in  Microphis deocata the exact opposite situation occurs. The female in these pipefish extend their colorful bellies when they are in breeding condition and make an accordion like movement to attract/choose a male mate. The male is actually the more drab individual. I believe the reason something like this evolves is related to the fact that male Rainbow Belly Pipefish, just like seahorses, are the ones that carry the eggs until they hatch. The male is responsible for a role that in most other species is almost always carried out by the female. The female deposits her eggs in an area on the male's underside where they will stay until they hatch. From the research I've done I found out that  Microphis deocata are actually related to seahorses. Both species belong to the  Syngnathidae family. I think it makes sen...
Read more

Blog Post Module 9

Option 2: This is a huge question to begin to consider. I'm definitely not sure of the answer but I will give it my best shot. An example where phenotypic plasticity could slow down evolutionary change could be the hares that are white in the winter and brown in the warmer months. These animals' ability to change their phenotype kind of cheats the system of selection in a way. Instead of either adapting to blend in or sticking out and therefore not surviving attacks from predators, they just shift back and forth between what is favorable without any hereditary aspect. Here, they don't have to evolve so the trait is stagnant. The ability to change might be passed on but the fur being brown or white is not adaptive.  An example where phenotypic plasticity could actually potentiate evolutionary change is developmental plasticity. Different offspring could be exposed to different cues at different times, therefore changes the course/speed of their development. This variation in...
Read more