Under which concept are species defined as potentially interbreeding populations that are reproductively isolated from others?

The biological species concept is grounded in the idea that species are groups of organisms that can interbreed and produce viable, fertile offspring, while being reproductively isolated from other such groups. This concept emphasizes reproductive isolation, which is critical for maintaining distinct species. By focusing on the ability to interbreed, it helps to clarify the boundaries between species based on their potential for genetic exchange.

Reproductive isolation can occur through various mechanisms, such as temporal, ecological, behavioral, mechanical, or gametic isolation, ensuring that even when populations are in the same area, they do not interbreed and thus maintain their species identity. This concept is widely used in ecology and conservation biology as it provides a clear criterion for defining and identifying species based on their reproductive capabilities rather than merely physical characteristics or evolutionary history.

The other concepts, such as the phylogenetic, recognition, and morphological species concepts, focus on different criteria for defining species. For instance, the phylogenetic species concept emphasizes common ancestry and the smallest groupings on a phylogenetic tree. The recognition species concept relates to specific mate recognition systems to identify a species, while the morphological species concept relies on structural features to differentiate species. However, none of these directly capture the essential criteria of interbreeding potential