= Biological species concept
The <biological species concept> groups naturally interbreeding <biological populations> with viable, fertile offspring, distinguished from other such groups by <reproductive isolation>. An operational test examines mating, <fertilization>, offspring survival and offspring <reproduction>, rather than only whether two adults can be paired. <Sexual reproduction> is its scope: <fossils> and <organisms> studied only through <asexual reproduction> cannot supply the same mating evidence. <Biology 2e by Mary Ann Clark and others>[§18.2, “Species and the Ability to Reproduce”, “Speciation” and “Reproductive Isolation”]{ref}
For an original hypothetical example, imagine two separated <biological populations> that reproduce successfully after contact. The separation alone did not demonstrate <reproductive isolation>. Conversely, failure to mate in one unfamiliar chamber could reflect the assay conditions. Field observations of <gene flow> and tests under suitable conditions address the biological question more directly. A successful laboratory pairing does not establish frequent interbreeding in nature.
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