Sometimes evolutionary biologists have trouble determining if subpopulations of a group of organisms are a single speci or are unique species. African giraffes provide a good example of this. At least six distinct subpopulations of giraf exist, which include Rothschild's, reticulated, West African, Angolan, South African, and Masai. Each has a different pattern of spots on its fur and exists in a different geographi region in Africa. Three of the subpopulations have some overlap in Kenya and Tanzania. What criteria support the hypothesis that giraffes from different subpopulations are unique species? Giraffes from different subpopulations are unable to breed with cach other. Giraffes from different subpopulations face the same selection pressures. Giraffes from different subpopulations are not able to produce viable young. Giraffes from different subpopulations migrate betweem their home regions. Giraffes from different subpopulations experience similar patterns of genetic drift.
Sometimes evolutionary biologists have trouble determining if subpopulations of a group of organisms are a single speci or are unique species. African giraffes provide a good example of this. At least six distinct subpopulations of giraf exist, which include Rothschild's, reticulated, West African, Angolan, South African, and Masai. Each has a different pattern of spots on its fur and exists in a different geographi region in Africa. Three of the subpopulations have some overlap in Kenya and Tanzania. What criteria support the hypothesis that giraffes from different subpopulations are unique species? Giraffes from different subpopulations are unable to breed with cach other. Giraffes from different subpopulations face the same selection pressures. Giraffes from different subpopulations are not able to produce viable young. Giraffes from different subpopulations migrate betweem their home regions. Giraffes from different subpopulations experience similar patterns of genetic drift.
Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)
11th Edition
ISBN:9780134580999
Author:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn
Publisher:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn
Chapter1: The Human Body: An Orientation
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Transcribed Image Text:### Giraffe Subpopulations and Species Differentiation
In the study of evolutionary biology, a challenge arises when determining whether subpopulations of organisms constitute single species or distinct species. African giraffes exemplify this challenge. There are at least six distinct subpopulations of giraffes, including Rothschild’s, reticulated, West African, Angolan, South African, and Masai. Each group has unique fur spot patterns and inhabits different African regions. Notably, some subpopulations overlap geographically in Kenya and Tanzania.
### Criteria for Assessing Species Uniqueness
The text poses a question about the criteria that support the hypothesis that giraffes from different subpopulations may be distinct species:
- **Breeding Compatibility**:
- Giraffes from different subpopulations being unable to breed with each other.
- **Selection Pressures**:
- Facing the same selection pressures across subpopulations might argue against them being separate species.
- **Viable Offspring**:
- Giraffes from different subpopulations not producing viable young would support species distinction.
- **Migration Patterns**:
- Giraffes migrating between home regions may indicate they are not separate species.
- **Genetic Drift**:
- Experiencing similar genetic drift patterns could indicate a lack of differentiation into distinct species.
### Diagrams and Illustrations
There are no diagrams or graphs in the image to describe. The text serves as a standalone explanation and assessment guideline for evolutionary biologists studying giraffe subpopulations.
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