What defines a species according to the Biological Species Concept?

The Biological Species Concept defines a species primarily based on the capability to interbreed and produce fertile offspring in a natural setting. According to this concept, a species is a group of organisms that can mate with each other and generate viable offspring that can also reproduce. This emphasizes reproductive isolation, meaning that members of a species are genetically similar enough to reproduce successfully, while also being distinct from other groups that do not interbreed.

This definition is crucial in understanding biodiversity and speciation because it highlights the importance of reproduction as a defining factor of species. The focus on fertile offspring within a natural context ensures that the classification of species is based not just on physical or behavioral similarities but on their actual reproductive relationships in the wild.