Species concepts IB-style questions

A “species concept” is a working definition of a species. It provides a method for deciding whether
two organisms are members of the same species or if they are two different species. There are two
concepts of species which can be used in DP Biology the morphological species and the biological
species concept.

Morphological species concept

The morphological species concept is frequently applied in cases where there is no information about
reproductive behaviour, as it relies entirely on similarities in morphology (the physical structures or
traits of an organism).

In 1850 The taxonomist Reginald Innes Pocock was troubled by a growing number of large cat
subspecies in the Panthera genus. To rationalize the classification he reviewed skins and skulls in the
zoological collection of the Natural History Museum, London. These are two of his drawings from his
publication, Pocock, R. I. (1930). "The panthers and ounces of Asia". Journal of the Bombay Natural
History Society. 34 (1): 65–82.

He carefully measured the shape and size of all the skulls in the collection and grouped them into
species, reducing the number of subspecies considerably.

1. Outline how this approach to biology is using the morphological species concept. (2)
The morphological species concept relies on physical traits to classify organisms into species.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
In this case, the taxonomist Reginald Innes Pocock examined skulls and skins of large cat subspecies, measuring
their shapes and sizes to identify distinct species based on observable morphological characteristics.
………………………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………

2. No two skulls were identical in all measurements. Suggest why skulls from the same species
are not exactly the same as each other. (1)

………………………………………………………………………………………….
Skulls from the same species exhibit variations due to factors such as genetic diversity, environmental
influences, age differences, sex-related traits, and potential diseases affecting individual development.
………………………………………………………………………………………….

© David Faure, InThinking www.thinkib.net/biology

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 Species concepts IB-style questions

Biological species concept

Proposed by evolutionary biologist Ernst Mayr, the biological species concept states that a species is
a group of actually or potentially interbreeding natural populations which are reproductively isolated
from other such groups. To classify animals into this concept of a species requires a knowledge of
animal behaviour and observations of living animals.

The DP Biology guide describes the biological species concept more simply.
A species is, “a group of organisms that can breed and produce fertile offspring.”

The images below show eight birds from five species of finch.

3. Using the morphological species concept how many species would a biologist identify? (1)
A biologist would identify five species based on the morphological traits observed in the finches.
.…………………………………………………………………………………………

4. Gouldian finches (the four photos on the right) are brightly coloured birds, common in
Northern Australia and popular as pets. To use the biological species concept to classify
them into one species of Gouldian finches, Chloebia gouldiae, what evidence would you need
about their behaviour? (1)

Evidence needed would include observations of mating behaviors and patterns among Gouldian finches,
…………………………………………………………………………………………
demonstrating that they interbreed and produce fertile offspring in natural conditions.
…………………………………………………………………………………………

5. Using examples from the image, outline the biological species concept. (1)

…………………………………………………………………………………………
The biological species concept defines a species as a group of organisms that can interbreed
and produce fertile offspring.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
For instance, Gouldian finches can breed with each other but are reproductively isolated
from other finch species, indicating they belong to the same species.
© David Faure, InThinking www.thinkib.net/biology
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 Species concepts IB-style questions

Challenges to the biological species concept

In some cases the biological species concept is difficult to use. For example, the definition’s focus on
interbreeding means this concept cannot be applied to groups of organisms if there is no detailed
reproductive data available, e.g. fossilised remains.

6. Why can’t we use the biological species concept to classify fossils of extinct species? (1)

…………………………………………………………………………………………
The biological species concept cannot be applied to fossils because it relies on reproductive data
and behaviours that are not available for extinct organisms.
…………………………………………………………………………………………

Organisms, such as bacteria also pose a problem. Bacteria reproduce

asexually, by binary fission. The cell copies its DNA and divides into two
cells.

7. Suggest the number of species of E. coli which we would have in a

colony of 100 bacteria using the Biological species concept. (1)
According to the Biological species concept, there would be one
…………………………………………………………………………………………
species of E. coli in a colony of 100 bacteria since they reproduce
asexually and are genetically similar.
………………………………………………………………………………………….

The hooded crow (Corvus cornix) and carrion crow (Corvus corone) are closely related species and
almost genetically identical. They sometimes mate together in areas of Europe from Scotland to Italy
forming fertile hybrids.

8. Discuss whether they should be considered the same species or separate species, according
to morphological species concept, and the biological species concept? (2)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
According to the morphological species concept, they should be considered separate
species due to their distinct physical features.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
However, according to the biological species concept, they could be classified as the
same species since they can interbreed and produce viable offspring
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

9. These hybrids have lower reproductive success than either parental type. Hybrid young are
less viable, too, than young produced from unmixed mating. So it is unlikely that hybrids will
form a new species in the future. Does this change your answer to question 8? (1)
Yes, it does affect my answer. The lower reproductive success of hybrids suggests that these two crows should be considered separate
species under the biological species concept because effective interbreeding is compromised, indicating reproductive isolation may exist
despite occasional hybridization.
© David Faure, InThinking www.thinkib.net/biology
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