Which of the following would be considered a separate species as defined by the biological species concept?
A) the red maple and the sugar maple, which are found throughout large parts of North America, but rarely hybridize
B) two populations of fox squirrels, one that lives on a hillside, and one that lives in the river valley
C) two populations of North American orioles, one that lives on the east coast, and one that lives on the west coast
D) separate populations of bobcats, one that lives on a rocky slope, and one that lives in an upland forest several miles distant
E) the Chihuahua and the Siberian husky, two different breeds of dog

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The red maple and the sugar maple are considered separate species according to the biological species concept because they do not often hybridize despite living in the same geographic range. This suggests that they have distinct reproductive barriers that prevent interbreeding and gene flow.

Which of the Following Would Be Considered a Separate Species