Biological species concept

[Michael Gochfeld]

Those of us raised on the biological species concept find it hard to 
reconcile with some new systematic approaches.  When hybridization 
occurs between two related taxa, the proof of the pudding is what 
happens over time. Does the zone and frequency of hybridization widen, 
blurring the distinctions, or does selection reinforce isolating 
mechanisms ultimately reducing hybridization, in which case one can (or 
could) comfortably assume that they were distinct species. 
	So hybridization today doesn't argue for or against separate 
species status. 

M. Gochfeld. 


 
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