Allochrony
Encyclopedia
The term allochrony is used in ecology
to describe a situation where two biological entities (typically species
) occur in the same area, and are thus sympatric, but are never or rarely active simultaneously. The most common temporal scale at which this is seen is seasonal, and greater emphasis is placed on the phenomenon when the two entities share a common resource for which they would otherwise be in competition (for example, feeding on the same host
plant, or consuming the same prey).
Allochrony is one of the few ecological phenomena that lend clear support to models and theories of sympatric speciation
; the idea that related lineages can differentiate into independent gene pool
s while still sharing the same physical environment, simply by virtue of changes in the life cycle that lead to separation in time of different portions of the ancestral population.
Ecology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
to describe a situation where two biological entities (typically species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
) occur in the same area, and are thus sympatric, but are never or rarely active simultaneously. The most common temporal scale at which this is seen is seasonal, and greater emphasis is placed on the phenomenon when the two entities share a common resource for which they would otherwise be in competition (for example, feeding on the same host
Host (biology)
In biology, a host is an organism that harbors a parasite, or a mutual or commensal symbiont, typically providing nourishment and shelter. In botany, a host plant is one that supplies food resources and substrate for certain insects or other fauna...
plant, or consuming the same prey).
Allochrony is one of the few ecological phenomena that lend clear support to models and theories of sympatric speciation
Sympatric speciation
Sympatric speciation is the process through which new species evolve from a single ancestral species while inhabiting the same geographic region. In evolutionary biology and biogeography, sympatric and sympatry are terms referring to organisms whose ranges overlap or are even identical, so that...
; the idea that related lineages can differentiate into independent gene pool
Gene pool
In population genetics, a gene pool is the complete set of unique alleles in a species or population.- Description :A large gene pool indicates extensive genetic diversity, which is associated with robust populations that can survive bouts of intense selection...
s while still sharing the same physical environment, simply by virtue of changes in the life cycle that lead to separation in time of different portions of the ancestral population.