How does speciation occur?

Hint: Species, the formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution. Speciation involves the division of a single evolutionary lineage into two or more genetically independent lines.

Complete answer:
Speciation is how a new type of plant or animal species is created. Species occur when a group within a species separates from other members of its species and develops its own unique characteristics.

The demands of a different environment or the characteristics of the members of the new group will distinguish the new species from their ancestors.

There are five types of speciation: allopatric, peripatric, parapathic, and sympatric and artificial.

Allopatric speciation occurs when the species is divided into two separate groups which are isolated from each other. A physical barrier, such as a mountain range or a waterway, makes it impossible for them to breed with each other.Each species develops differently on the basis of the requirements of its unique habitat or the genetic characteristics of the group passed on to the offspring.

When small groups of individuals break away from the larger group and form a new species, this is called peripatric speciation . As in allopatric speciation, physical barriers make it impossible for members of groups to interbreed with each other.

The main difference between allopatric speciation and peripatric speciation is that one group is much smaller than the other in peripatric speciation. The unique characteristics of the smaller groups are passed onto future generations of the group, making them more common among the smaller groups and distinguishing them from the others.

In parapatric speciation, the species is spread over a wide geographic area. Although it is possible for any member of the species to mate with another member, individuals only mate with those in their own geographical area. Like allopatric and peripatric species, different habitats have an impact on the development of different species in parapathic species.Instead of being separated by a physical barrier, the species is separated by differences in the same environment.

Sympatric species are controversial. Some scientists don't think it exists. Sympatric speciation occurs when there are no physical barriers to the mating of any member of a species, and all members are in close proximity to each other. A new species, perhaps based on a different food source or characteristic, appears to develop spontaneously.The theory is that some individuals become dependent on certain aspects of the environment—such as shelter or food—while others do not.

Artificial speciation is the creation of new species by humans. This is achieved through laboratory experiments, where scientists mostly research insects such as fruit flies.

Note: Species may also occur unnaturally in the laboratory or as a result of selective breeding and so on. Rapid sympatric speciation may take place through polyploidy, such as chromosome number doubling; the result is offspring which are immediately isolated from the parent population.