Question

Two groups of birds, A and B, have not been observed to mate in nature, and hybrids produced by laboratory matings are unable to reproduce. Birds in the two groups have similar color patterns, the same beak shape and beak size, and the same average wing span. Based on analyses of gene (DNA) sequences, group A appears to be most closely related to a species of sparrow, while group B is more closely related to a species of finch. Based on this information, under which species concept(s) would group A and group B be considered different species?

Answer 1

Species Concept

Step-by-step explanation:

Based on the given information, group A and group B can be considered different species under biological species concept and phylogenetic species concept

• Because the two groups of birds share similar physical characteristics, they would not be considered different species under the morphological species concept
• The two groups have not been observed to mate, and hybrid offspring generated in a lab cannot reproduce, both of these observations support the hypothesis that they are different species under the biological species concept
• The fact that group A is more closely related to sparrows, while group B is more closely related to finches supports the hypothesis that they are different species under the phylogenetic species concept