Practice problem
Species (Ecology) — Definition & Examples
The "Species problem" refers to how it can be very difficult to create a definition of species that refers to every living organism.
An important part of the species concept involves organisms from different species being unable to reproduce. However, if you are learning about asexual species like bacteria, some fungi, and some plants, you can't use sexual reproduction as evidence of different species.
When trying to study the evolutionary history of an animal, you might only be dealing with DNA and fossil evidence. This also makes it hard to use reproductive isolation as your species definition, because that animal is no longer around to try and reproduce.
If you wanted to study differences in the species of an asexual bacteria or plant, what methods could you use other than reproductive isolation? Choose all correct answers.