species barrier
Cross-breeding prevention mechanism
A species barrier is the biological boundary that prevents diseases, particularly viruses, from jumping between different species.
The term appears most often in discussions of zoonotic diseases—those that cross from animals to humans: The virus mutated enough to breach the species barrier.
When a pathogen overcomes this barrier, the results can be catastrophic, as the new host population lacks immunity.
Animal-to-human disease transmission
- spilloverExcess that escapes
- transmissionSending of information
- pathogenDisease-causing microorganism
- virusMicroscopic infectious agent
pandemic · vector · bird flu · swine flu · rabies · Ebola · COVID-19 · prion
Formation of distinct species
- natural selectionDifferential reproductive success
- bottleneckConstriction limiting throughput
- gene flowAllele transfer between populations
- mutationPermanent DNA alteration
genetic drift · divergence · lineages · phylogenetics · common ancestor
Mixing distinct genetic lines
- interbreedingMating between distinct populations
- sterilityAbsence of microbes or fertility
- assortative matingPairing by shared traits
- fertilityCapacity for reproduction
crossbreeding · hybrid vigor · mule · liger · outcrossing · breeding season · mating call · sexual selection
Complete vanishing of a species
- wildlife protectionPreserving wild animals, habitats
- captive breedingReproducing animals under human care
- biodiversity lossReduction in species variety
- habitat fragmentationBreaking continuous environments into isolated patches
inbreeding · genetic diversity · rewilding · sanctuary · gene bank
Science of species distribution
- dispersalSpreading in many directions
- distributionAllocation across recipients
- continental driftGradual landmass repositioning
- mountain rangeSeries of connected peaks
climate zone · corridor · fragmentation · edge effect · ecotone · land bridge
zoonosis
Animal-to-human disease transmission
- spilloverExcess that escapes
- transmissionSending of information
- pathogenDisease-causing microorganism
virus · pandemic · vector · bird flu · swine flu · rabies · Ebola · COVID-19 · prion · zoonotic disease
speciation
Formation of distinct species
- natural selectionDifferential reproductive success
- bottleneckConstriction limiting throughput
- gene flowAllele transfer between populations
mutation · genetic drift · divergence · lineages · phylogenetics · common ancestor
hybridization
Mixing distinct genetic lines
- interbreedingMating between distinct populations
- sterilityAbsence of microbes or fertility
- assortative matingPairing by shared traits
fertility · crossbreeding · hybrid vigor · mule · liger · outcrossing · breeding season · mating call · sexual selection
extinction
Complete vanishing of a species
- wildlife protectionPreserving wild animals, habitats
- captive breedingReproducing animals under human care
- biodiversity lossReduction in species variety
habitat fragmentation · inbreeding · genetic diversity · rewilding · sanctuary · gene bank
biogeography
Science of species distribution
- dispersalSpreading in many directions
- distributionAllocation across recipients
- continental driftGradual landmass repositioning
mountain range · climate zone · corridor · fragmentation · edge effect · ecotone · land bridge
- hybridshybrid car, crossbred, mule, hybrid cars, tigon
- zoonotic diseaseszoonosis, zoonoses, zoonotic disease, rabies, leptospirosis
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