Question

How does the metapopulation lineage concept resolve the potential for conflict between Biological Species Concept and the General Lineage Concept of species discussed in lecture?

Answer 1

Answer :

Biological species concept defines species as members of populations that actually or potentially interbreed in nature. And not according to similarity of appearance. Organism may look different but can be same species if they interbreed.

In general lineage concept only necessary property is existence as a separately evolving population lineage. Any criterion thay identifies lineage identify species.

Metapopulation lineage concept is made up of several lineages, that is separate branches. The term metapopulation means inclusive population made up of connected sub populations.

So metapopulation lineage includes the lineage concept and biological species concept trimming some of its criterias. That is in metapopulation concept basic unit species share a recent common ancestor and they interbreed. Thus the conflict of biological species concept and general lineage concept was over.