Classification

Question 1

What are the general features of species?

Answer 1

1. Smallest taxonomic unit
2. Small distinct entity
3. Interbreeding
4. Limited in space (geographical location)

Question 2

What are the criteria for recognizing species?

Answer 2

1. Common evolutionary descent
2. Reproductive community
3. Smallest taxonomic unit

Question 3

What are the species concepts?

Answer 3

1. Typological species concept
2. Biological species concept
3. Evolutionary species concept
4. Phylogenetic species concept

Question 4

Typlogical/Morphological species concept

Answer 4

Relies on type specimen that represent the ideal form of the species.

Question 5

What is a type specimen?

Answer 5

The species of a genus that is regarded as the best example of the generic characters of the genus; the species from which a genus was originally named.

Question 6

Biological species concept

Answer 6

It only covers sexually reproducing organisms. Species were described as a reproductive community of population (reproductively isolated from nature) that occupies a particular biological niche in nature.

Question 7

Evolutionary species concept

Answer 7

States that a single lineage of ancestor-descendant populations that maintains its identity from other such lineages.

Question 8

Phylogenetic species concept

Answer 8

Irreducible grouping of organisms diagnosable distinct from other such groupings and within which there is a parental pattern of ancestry and descent.

Question 9

What is the authority?

Answer 9

The authority of a name refers to the one who identifies a type specimen first and publishes the name.

Question 10

Types of species

Answer 10

1. Taxonomic
2. Typospecies
3. Palaeospecies
4. Biospecie
5. Sibling specie
6. Morphospecies
7. Agamospecies

Question 11

Taxonomic species

Answer 11

Satisfies all possible criteria

Question 12

Morphospecies

Answer 12

Named from morphological evidence

Question 13

Palaeospecie

Answer 13

Extinct, from fossil materials only

Question 14

Biospecie

Answer 14

Fulfils breeding requirements

Question 15

Typospecie

Answer 15

Identified by fixed, essential features

Question 16

Sibling specie

Answer 16

Too similar morphologically, differences revealed through studies (molecularly)

Question 17

Agamospecie

Answer 17

Reproduce only asexually

Question 18

What is biogeography?

Answer 18

The study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographical space through geological time.

Question 19

Organisms differ in fashion along geographical gradients of…

Answer 19

…latitude, elevation, isolation, habitat area

Question 20

What are the types of distribution in biogeography?

Answer 20

1. Cosmopolitan - Found everywhere habitable
2. Endemic - Restricted distribution
3. Focal - Localised, limited and more specific than endemic
4. Continuous - Wide spread
5. Disjoint - Not widespread