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.

Distribution and Dispersion

Distribution and Dispersion

To understand intra-specific interactions in populations, scientists measure the spatial arrangement of species individuals. This geographic arrangement is known as the species distribution or dispersion. Highly territorial species exhibit a uniform distribution pattern, in which individuals are spaced at relatively equal distances from one another. Species that are highly tied to particular resources, such as food or shelter, tend to concentrate around those resources, and thus exhibit a...

Migration

Migration

Migration is long-range, seasonal movement from one region or habitat to another. This common strategy, carried out by many different organisms around the world, is an adaptive response that typically corresponds to changes in an organism’s environment, like resource availability or climate. Migrations can involve huge groups of thousands of animals as well as single individuals traveling alone and can range from thousands of kilometers to just a few hundred meters.

Genetics of Speciation

Genetics of Speciation

Speciation is the evolutionary process resulting in the formation of new, distinct species—groups of reproductively isolated populations.

Speciation Rates

Speciation Rates

Hybrid Zones

Hybrid Zones

Hybrid zones are narrow regions where two closely related species interact, mate, and produce hybrids. Relative to either parent species, hybrids may possess distinct phenotypic or genetic differences that impact their survival and reproductive success. The genetic variances introduced by hybridization influence species diversity and speciation processes within the hybrid zone.

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Chase-and-Run and Chirality in Nonlocal Models of Pattern Formation.

Bulletin of mathematical biology·2025

Same author

Transient Instability and Patterns of Reactivity in Diffusive-Chemotaxis Soil Carbon Dynamics.

Bulletin of mathematical biology·2025

Same author

Designing reaction-cross-diffusion systems with Turing and wave instabilities.

Journal of mathematical biology·2025

Same author

Pattern Formation as a Resilience Mechanism in Cancer Immunotherapy.

Bulletin of mathematical biology·2025

Same author

Dynamical Systems on Generalised Klein Bottles.

Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)·2025

Same author

Patterning of nonlocal transport models in biology: The impact of spatial dimension.

Mathematical biosciences·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Planar Gradient Diffusion System to Investigate Chemotaxis in a 3D Collagen Matrix

Planar Gradient Diffusion System to Investigate Chemotaxis in a 3D Collagen Matrix

Published on: June 12, 2015

Two-Species Migration and Clustering in Two-Dimensional Domains.

Lawrence Kurowski¹, Andrew L Krause¹, Hanako Mizuguchi¹

¹Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Andrew Wiles Building, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6GG, UK.

Bulletin of Mathematical Biology

|August 20, 2017

Summary

This study models two-species interactions in 2D, showing that while clustering occurs, populations often stabilize into uniform states, especially with varied resources and hazards. This aggregation behavior is key for understanding population dynamics.

Keywords:

Colony formation Fitness-dependent dispersal Reaction–diffusion–advection system

More Related Videos

Study of Cell Migration in Microfabricated Channels

Study of Cell Migration in Microfabricated Channels

Published on: February 21, 2014

Monitoring Spatial Segregation in Surface Colonizing Microbial Populations

Monitoring Spatial Segregation in Surface Colonizing Microbial Populations

Published on: October 29, 2016

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 24, 2026

Planar Gradient Diffusion System to Investigate Chemotaxis in a 3D Collagen Matrix

Planar Gradient Diffusion System to Investigate Chemotaxis in a 3D Collagen Matrix

Published on: June 12, 2015

Study of Cell Migration in Microfabricated Channels

Study of Cell Migration in Microfabricated Channels

Published on: February 21, 2014

Monitoring Spatial Segregation in Surface Colonizing Microbial Populations

Monitoring Spatial Segregation in Surface Colonizing Microbial Populations

Published on: October 29, 2016

Area of Science:

Mathematical Biology
Ecology
Population Dynamics

Background:

Previous models often simplified population movement to one spatial dimension.
Realistic spatial domains are crucial for understanding complex population interactions.
Interspecies dynamics, including competition and predation, drive population distributions.

Purpose of the Study:

To extend two-species aggregation models to two-dimensional spatial domains.
To analyze population movement along fitness gradients towards resources or away from hazards.
To investigate the stability of uniform steady states and the emergence of spatial aggregation.

Main Methods:

Development of two-species models for aggregation in 2D bounded domains.
Analysis of species movement driven by fitness gradients in competitive and predator-prey scenarios.
Investigation of uniform steady states and transient behaviors like clustering.
Exploration of heterogeneous environments with varied resources and hazards.

Main Results:

Interspecies interactions analyzed include competition, generalist predator-prey, and predator-prey dynamics.
While transient clustering and colony formation are observed, spatially homogeneous steady states dominate in convex domains.
Heterogeneous environments lead to asymptotic steady states with spatial aggregation near resources and away from hazards.

Conclusions:

Two-dimensional models provide a more realistic framework for population dynamics.
Spatially homogeneous states are often the long-term outcome in simple domains.
Environmental heterogeneity is critical for maintaining spatial aggregation and understanding population distribution.