Species pair
species pair (noun, pl. species pairs) – a theoretical concept established in lichenology to allow the naming of two taxa, that are morphologically, anatomically and chemically similar if not identical, but can be distinguished by their sexual vs. asexual reproductive modes; also see primary and secondary species. The concept is not universally accepted, some authors argue that taxa with different reproductive modes represent different forms or varieties but not separate species, other authors argue that the two taxa deserve to be treated as species because they are subject to different evolutionary constraints, i. e., it is often argued that it will be more problematic for fertile taxon to find a suitable photobiont for thallus establishment. This argument corresponds well with the observations that the taxon that reproduces by somatic propagules is often more widely distributed than its fertile counterpart.
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