Peripatric speciation Definition and Examples

Definition
noun
A speciation in which new species evolve in a sub-population that colonized a new habitat or niche within the same geographical area of the ancestral species, and experience genetic drift.
Supplement
Similar to allopatric speciation, peripatric speciation involves populations being geographically separated and prevented from exchanging genes. It differs from the allopatric speciation in a way that the population separating from the main population involves a smaller unit.
An example of this is the London Underground mosquito, a variant of the mosquito Culex pipiens, which entered in the London Undgerground in 19th century. Evidence for its speciation includes genetic divergence, behavioural differences, and difficulty in mating.
Word origin: Greek, from peri, around, near + Greek patrā, fatherland.
Compare: allopatric speciation, parapatric speciation, sympatric speciation.

See also: speciation, genetic isolation.

The Origins of Life

This tutorial digs into the past to investigate the origins of life. The section is split into geological periods in the..

Mātauranga Māori and Science

Mātauranga Māori is the living knowledge system of the indigenous people of New Zealand, including the relationships t..

The Gene Pool and Population Genetics

According to Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection, preferable genes are favored by nature in the gene pool, and ..

Types and Causes of Brain Damage

This tutorial describes the different types and causes of brain damage. Find out how genetics, physical injury, lack of ..

Schematic diagram of bacterial lactose operon

Gene Action – Operon Hypothesis

Learn how the way genes control and determine every aspect of the body. This lesson uses lac operon as an example. ..

Pollution in Freshwater Ecosystems

There are many environmental factors that arise due to the usage of water in one way or another and for every action tha..

Peripatric speciation

You will also like...