speciation

Noun

speciation (usually uncountable, plural speciations)

1. (usually) The process by which new distinct species evolve.
   • In both groups, however, we find copious and intricate speciation so that, often, species limits are narrow and ill defined.1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, Chicago, Ill.: Field Museum of Natural History, →ISBN, page 3
   • No one had ever seen a new species produced, nor, according to Darwin, should they expect to. Speciation was so drawn out as to be, for all intents and purposes unobservable.2014, Elizabeth Kolbert, The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History, Picador, →ISBN, page 55
2. (usually) The formation of different (inorganic) species (especially of ions) as the environment changes.
3. (usually) The determination of which species are present in a fluid or tissue specimen, bacterial culture, or viral culture.
   • requirements specifying speciation and serotyping in addition to reporting of presence or absence