Natural Selection and Speciation

In this post, I will briefly outline some of the terminology and concepts discussed in Dr. Ehrenfeld's lecture and in the assigned Mayr and Diamond reading.  This post is not exhaustive and will not substitute your personal notes, but will provide some resources/visuals for understanding key terms and concepts (Source: Evolution 101).

Important Scientists:

   Charles Darwin (Origin of Species, 1859) & Alfred Russell Wallace 

How do we define a species?

   The Biological Species Concept (BSC) is one way to define a species.

   Speciation: how do new species evolve? (this hyperlink has great visuals)

  

Allopatric speciation

Dichopatric speciation (geographic isolation)

Peripatric speciation ("founder effect") 

Sympatric speciation  

Sympatric speciation

Parapatric speciation 

Natural Selection, Speciation & Evolution Examples

Adaptive Radiation & Galapagos finches

Convergent Evolution

The above salamanders are a classic example of a ring species.