What is Concept of Species?

Species are the fundamental unit of biological classification, and they play an important role in differentiating the types of organisms. It is a group of individuals that can interbreed. The biological species concept and evolutionary species concept are the two known approaches to understanding the concept of species. Other approaches include nominalistic species, ecological species, typological species, and morphological species.

Concept of Species

The concept of species is fundamental in biology, representing a group of organisms that share common characteristics and can interbreed to produce fertile offspring. Various species concepts include the biological species concept, which emphasizes reproductive compatibility as the primary criterion. In this article, we will study the concept of species, their extinction, and more in detail.

Table of Content

  • What is Concept of Species?
  • Types of Species
  • Extinction of Species
  • Key Characteristics of Biological Species Concept
  • Disadvantages of Biological Species Concept
  • Difference Between Biological Species Concept and Evolutionary Species Concept

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What is Concept of Species?

Species are the fundamental unit of biological classification, and they play an important role in differentiating the types of organisms. It is a group of individuals that can interbreed. The biological species concept and evolutionary species concept are the two known approaches to understanding the concept of species. Other approaches include nominalistic species, ecological species, typological species, and morphological species....

Types of Species

Species are broadly categorized into six concepts, these are as follows:...

Extinction of Species

The term “species extinction” describes the irreversible disappearance of a certain kind of species from the biosphere of Earth. Throughout Earth’s history, extinction has been a natural process, but in the present period, human activity has greatly accelerated it. It is believed that more than 99% of all species that have ever existed on Earth are extinct....

Key Characteristics of Biological Species Concept

The key characteristics of biological species concepts are as follows:...

Disadvantages of Biological Species Concept

The limitation of biological species concept are as follows:...

Difference Between Biological Species Concept and Evolutionary Species Concept

Biological and evolutionary species concepts are two different approaches to define and understand the basic concept of species. Although they share some similarities, they also have differences in terms of definition, criteria and emphasis. Key differences between these two theories are mentioned below....

Conclusion: Concept of Species

Both the concept of biological and evolutionary species aims to define the species, although they are distinct from each other in terms of definition, criteria and emphasis. Biological species concept focuses more on reproductive compatibility of the organism to define it as species while evolutionary emphasises on evolutionary history and lineage continuity. Evolutionary concept addresses most of the limitations of biological species concept like considering fossil, extinct species, asexual organisms and defining species as dynamic entities....

FAQs on Concept of Species

What are Other Theories to Define the Concept of Species?...