As with many taxonomic groups of organisms, defining species is
exceedingly difficult for algae. Various species concepts exist in systematics,
such as morphological, biological, genetic, phylogenetic, ecological,
paleontological, evolutionary, and so on. On
the basis of studies of algal species; there are mainly three species concepts
are applied to the algae. They are biological species concept, morphological
species concept and phylogenetic species concept.
The biological species concept was coined
by evolutionary biologist Ernst Mayr. Mayr's definition of a species
is based on the genetic isolation of populations. This concept is widely used
to define the animal species. The Biological Species Concept picks out groups
of interbreeding organisms. The species of birds or corals, or protozoa and
intestinal worms have the same kind of evolutionary phenomena is entirely
justified. If two organisms are potentially able to interbreed and produced
viable offspring, they are classified within the same species. If the
interbreeding does not occur because hybrids are infertile or populations are
separated by other boundaries that prevent interbreeding, they are regarded as
separate species. Some scientist described some cases of the successful
application of the biological species concept to algae.
To determine boundaries
of biological species, time-consuming experiments are necessary as sexual
reproduction has not been detected in some algae; they reproduce by asexual
means. Provided mating experiments are possible, a species defined by the
biological species concept is reproducing and represents the smallest taxonomic
and evolutionary unit. Biological species are therefore considered the optimal
species definition. However, especially in plants, but also in some animals the
biological species concept may not work out due to incomplete separation of
evolutionary lineages.
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