What is a working definition used to determine whether two organisms belong to the same species?

The concept of a species is essential in biology for classifying and understanding the diversity of life. A working definition often used to determine if two organisms belong to the same species is known as the species concept. This concept encompasses various criteria to define species, with the most common being the biological species concept, which emphasizes reproductive isolation. According to this definition, two organisms are considered the same species if they can interbreed and produce fertile offspring.

Other definitions may involve morphological similarities, genetic similarities, or ecological niches, but the overarching idea of the species concept is crucial for categorizing organisms and exploring their evolutionary relationships. This understanding helps in conservation efforts, studying biodiversity, and many other biological sciences, laying a foundational principle in the field of taxonomy.