Parapatric speciation
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Parapatric speciation is a form of speciation that occurs due to variations in mating frequency of a population within a continuous geographical area. In this model, the parent species lives in a continuous habitat, in contrast with allopatric speciation where subpopulations become geographically isolated. Niches in this habitat can differ along a environmental gradient, hampering gene flow, and thus creating a cline.
An example[1] of this is the grass Anthoxanthum, which has been known to undergo parapatric speciation in such cases as mine contamination of an area. This creates a selection pressure for tolerance to those metals. Flowering time generally changes (in an attempt at character displacement—strong selection against interbreeding—as the hybrids are generally ill-suited to the environment) and often plants will become self-pollinating.
Another example is ring species.
See also
References
"Parapatric speciation." in Understanding Evolution at evolution.berkeley.edu
Speciation guide | |
|---|---|
| Basic concepts: | Species • Chronospecies • Speciation • Cline |
| Modes of speciation: | Allopatric • Peripatric • Parapatric • Sympatric • Polyploidy • Paleopolyploidy |
| Auxiliary mechanisms: | Sexual selection • Assortative mating • Punctuated equilibrium |
| Intermediate stages: | Hybrid • Haldane's rule • Ring species |
Basic topics in evolutionary biology | |
|---|---|
| Evidence of evolution | |
| Processes of evolution | adaptation · macroevolution · microevolution · speciation |
| Population genetic mechanisms | natural selection · genetic drift · gene flow · mutation |
| Evolutionary developmental biology (Evo-devo) concepts | phenotypic plasticity · canalisation · modularity |
| Modes of evolution | anagenesis · catagenesis · cladogenesis |
| History | History of evolutionary thought · Charles Darwin · The Origin of Species · modern evolutionary synthesis · Evolutionary history of life |
| Other subfields | ecological genetics · human evolution · molecular evolution · phylogenetics · systematics |
| List of evolutionary biology topics · Timeline of evolution | |
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