Title: Goals and Learning Objectives - chp 23
Course: BIO-182 RTZ > Section: Week 3 - Speciation

CHAPTER 23 – SPECIATION
Goals:
- Understand species concepts, reproductive isolation, and the formation of new species
- Describe modes of speciation, barriers to speciation, and factors that affect the rate of speciation

Learning Objectives:
1. Contrast the three different working definitions of species and summarize their relative strengths  for understanding evolutionary processes
2. Explain why speciation is a gradual process and how this affects efforts to distinguish separate species
3. Explain how Darwin’s finches constitute an example of allopatric speciation.
4. Compare and contrast disruptive selection and polyploidy as mechanisms of sympatric speciation.
5. Define reinforcement and explain how the prevention of hybridization strengthens speciation.
6. Define five types of prezygotic isolation mechanisms and explain how each works.
7. Define three types of postzygotic isolation mechanisms and explain how each works.
8. Define hybrid zone, describe their deleterious effects on individuals, and explain why they can persist for many generations.
9. Describe four factors that affect rates of speciation rates and provide an example for each.
10. Explain the circumstances under which large numbers of new species may come into existence.
11. Describe the circumstances which hinder the emergence of new species.

Key terms: Adaptive radiation, allopatric speciation, polyploidy, biological species concept, evolutionary radiation, lineage, lineage species concept, morphological species concept, prezygotic isolating mechanisms, postzygotic isolating mechanism, reproductive isolation, species, species concept, sympatric speciation.