An evolutionary biologist makes decisions about whether to consider three different populations of copepods separate species based on observations of the individuals with which these copepods will mate. all combinations of these populations are able to mate with one another, but none of the combinations produce viable offspring. this biologist is most likely employing the species concept, and based on the application of this species concept to these results, there are most likely species of copepods present.

1. Biological

2. Three

Explanation:

The biological species concept is based on the reproductive isolation of species from each other. According to the biological species concept, when members of one or more populations are able to interbreed with each other to produce viable and fertile progeny, the populations belong to the same species. Members of different species cannot interbreed. Members of two species may be able to interbreed but cannot produce the fertile and viable progeny due to post-reproductive isolation mechanisms.

According to the given information, members of three populations of copepods are not able to produce viable offspring by interbreeding with each other. This means that according to the biological species concept, three populations are three different species.

fertilization, pictured in figure 24.23a is the process in which gametes (an egg and sperm) fuse to form a zygote. the egg and sperm each contain one set of chromosomes. to ensure that the offspring has only one complete diploid set of chromosomes, only one sperm must fuse with one egg. in mammals, the egg is protected by a layer of extracellular matrix consisting mainly of glycoproteins called the zona pellucida. when a sperm binds to the zona pellucida, a series of biochemical events, called the acrosomal reactions, take place. in placental mammals, the acrosome contains digestive enzymes that initiate the degradation of the glycoprotein matrix protecting the egg and allowing the sperm plasma membrane to fuse with the egg plasma membrane, as illustrated in figure 24.23b. the fusion of these two membranes creates an opening through which the sperm nucleus is transferred into the ovum. the nuclear membranes of the egg and sperm break down and the two haploid genomes condense to form a diploid genome.

explanation:

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