Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Formation of Species

Formation of Species

Speciation describes the formation of one or more new species from one or sometimes multiple original species. The resulting species are discrete from the parent species, and barriers to reproduction will typically exist. There are two primary mechanisms, speciation with and without geographic isolation—allopatric and sympatric speciation, respectively.Allopatric SpeciationIn allopatric speciation, gene flow between two populations of the same species is prevented by a geographic barrier, like...

Speciation Rates

Speciation Rates

Speciation can proceed at markedly different rates, and evolutionary biologists commonly describe these differences through the models of gradualism and punctuated equilibrium. Both patterns explain how new species arise, but they differ in the tempo and continuity of evolutionary change. In both cases, evolutionary change arises from heritable variation within populations, with natural selection often shaping traits that improve survival and reproduction under specific environmental conditions.

Competition

Competition

When organisms require the same limited resources within an environment, they may have to compete for them. Competition is a net-negative interaction. Even if two competing individuals or populations do not interact directly, the overall fitness of both competitors is lowered as a result of not having full access to the limited resource.Intraspecific competition, which occurs between individuals of the same species, serves as a natural mechanism for regulating population size. Too much...

Genetics of Speciation

Genetics of Speciation

Speciation is the evolutionary process resulting in the formation of new, distinct species—groups of reproductively isolated populations.The genetics of speciation involves the different traits or isolating mechanisms preventing gene exchange, leading to reproductive isolation. Reproductive isolation can be due to reproductive barriers that have effects either before or after the formation of a zygote. Pre-zygotic mechanisms prevent fertilization from occurring, and post-zygotic mechanisms...

Understanding Species and Reproductive Barriers

Understanding Species and Reproductive Barriers

A species is a group of organisms that interbreed and produce fertile offspring. Typically, individuals of the same species appear similar and share common characteristics due to their highly similar genomes. However, not all organisms that look alike are members of the same species. Various mechanisms keep most species discrete. While some mechanisms prevent reproductive behavior and fertilization (pre-zygotic isolation), others prevent the production of fertile offspring after mating has...

Microbial Interactions: Competition

Microbial Interactions: Competition

Microbial competition is an ecological interaction in which microorganisms vie for limited resources within shared environments. These resources may include nutrients, space, or light, depending on the system. The intensity and outcome of competition are influenced by the environmental context, such as nutrient availability, spatial constraints, and the diversity of microbial species present. These competitive interactions significantly influence the structure, function, and resilience of...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

On the origin of PRDM9-guided recombination hotspots.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

Same author

Detecting Uncoded Self-Harm in Veterans' Electronic Health Records Using Positive and Unlabeled Learning: Retrospective Cohort Study.

Journal of medical Internet research·2026

Same author

Detecting Uncoded Self-Harm in Veterans' Electronic Health Records Using Positive and Unlabeled Learning: Retrospective Observational Study.

Journal of medical Internet research·2026

Same author

Bounds for survival probabilities in supercritical Galton-Watson processes and applications to population genetics.

Journal of mathematical biology·2026

Same author

Impact of age, HIV1, sickle-cell genotypes, and interferon-gamma gene upstream variants on malaria disease outcomes in a longitudinal pediatric cohort.

Scientific reports·2025

Same author

Detecting Opioid Use Disorder in Health Claims Data With Positive Unlabeled Learning.

IEEE journal of biomedical and health informatics·2025

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Assessing Differences in Sperm Competitive Ability in Drosophila

Assessing Differences in Sperm Competitive Ability in Drosophila

Published on: August 22, 2013

The conditions for speciation through intraspecific competition.

Reinhard Bürger¹, Kristan A Schneider, Martin Willensdorfer

¹Department of Mathematics, University of Vienna, Nordbergstrasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria. reinhard.buerger@univie.ac.at

Evolution; International Journal of Organic Evolution

|January 24, 2007

Summary

Sympatric speciation requires intermediate competition and strong assortative mating. The study explores genetic factors influencing population splitting and proposes methods to identify reproductively isolated clusters.

More Related Videos

Monitoring Intraspecies Competition in a Bacterial Cell Population by Cocultivation of Fluorescently Labelled Strains

Monitoring Intraspecies Competition in a Bacterial Cell Population by Cocultivation of Fluorescently Labelled Strains

Published on: January 18, 2014

Determination of the Mating Efficiency of Haploids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Determination of the Mating Efficiency of Haploids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Published on: December 2, 2022

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Assessing Differences in Sperm Competitive Ability in Drosophila

Assessing Differences in Sperm Competitive Ability in Drosophila

Published on: August 22, 2013

Monitoring Intraspecies Competition in a Bacterial Cell Population by Cocultivation of Fluorescently Labelled Strains

Monitoring Intraspecies Competition in a Bacterial Cell Population by Cocultivation of Fluorescently Labelled Strains

Published on: January 18, 2014

Determination of the Mating Efficiency of Haploids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Determination of the Mating Efficiency of Haploids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Published on: December 2, 2022

Area of Science:

Evolutionary Biology
Population Genetics

Background:

Sympatric speciation is theoretically possible via disruptive selection but its plausibility and conditions remain debated.
Key unresolved questions include the sufficiency of disruptive selection, the role of genetic architecture, and the required strength of assortative mating.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the conditions favoring sympatric speciation using a diploid multilocus model.
To explore the interplay between frequency-dependent competition, assortative mating, genetic architecture, and population dynamics.

Main Methods:

A diploid multilocus model of a quantitative trait under frequency-dependent and stabilizing selection was analyzed.
The trait influenced both competition and assortative mating.
Various parameters were explored, including competition strength, assortment level, number of loci, and initial conditions.

Main Results:

Speciation is most likely with intermediate competition and strong, but not extreme, assortative mating.
Very strong competition necessitates extremely high assortment, hindering speciation.
A wide range of evolutionary outcomes were observed, including speciation into multiple species and complex population dynamics.

Conclusions:

The study provides quantitative measures to identify reproductively isolated clusters, aiding speciation research.
Optimal conditions for sympatric speciation involve a balance between competition and assortative mating.
Genetic variation dynamics and initial population composition significantly influence speciation outcomes.