Consider two populations of birds: an original population on the mainland and a small population on a volcanic island. What data should you collect to determine if they are two different species according to the biological species concept?

A. The relative fitness of the mainland and island individuals.

B. The range of foods eaten by members of the two populations.

C. The degree of genetic difference between the two populations.

D. The physical appearance of the birds in the two populations.

E. The percentage of viable, fertile hybrid offspring formed if the two populations encounter each other.

Question

Biology

Boston Petty

4 August, 12:46

Consider two populations of birds: an original population on the mainland and a small population on a volcanic island. What data should you collect to determine if they are two different species according to the biological species concept?

A. The relative fitness of the mainland and island individuals.

B. The range of foods eaten by members of the two populations.

C. The degree of genetic difference between the two populations.

D. The physical appearance of the birds in the two populations.

E. The percentage of viable, fertile hybrid offspring formed if the two populations encounter each other.

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Answers (1)

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Eric Hampton · Answer 1

E. The percentage of viable, fertile hybrid offspring formed if the two populations encounter each other.

Explanation:

The biological species concept is a concept which is about a group of potentially interbreeding populations which become reproductively isolated from other groups of the same species.

These groups cannot reproduce with one another when they encounter each other. Testing the frequency of viable offspring is a good way to prove the biological species concept in a certain species