Which Situation Would Pose a Major Difficulty for Applying the Biological

Question

Which situation would pose a major difficulty for applying the biological species concept?
A) Five snail fossils taken from the same locality during a 400,000-year time span
B) Two populations of sexually reproducing insects that can be bred easily in the same location under field conditions
C) Two populations of sexually reproducing plants that can be bred easily in the same location under field conditions
D) Sexually dimorphic mating pairs of birds
E) Monomorphic mating pairs of birds

Accepted Answer

The biological species concept relies on the ability of individuals to interbreed and produce viable offspring. In the case of fossils, it is impossible to directly observe reproductive compatibility, making it difficult to apply the biological species concept.