A fire devastates all trees in a wide swath of forest....

A fire devastates all trees in a wide swath of forest. Populations of a species of tree-dwelling frog on either side of the burned area diverge to become separate species. This is an example of __________. a. allopatric speciation b. adaptive radiation c. sympatric speciation d. an evolutionary bottleneck

A fire devastates all trees in a wide swath of forest. Populations of a species of tree-dwelling frog on either side of the burned area diverge to become separate species. This is an example of __________.
a. allopatric speciation
b. adaptive radiation
c. sympatric speciation
d. an evolutionary bottleneck

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Key Concepts

Reproductive Isolation

Reproductive isolation refers to the mechanisms that prevent individuals from different populations from successfully interbreeding. Even if geographic barriers are removed, reproductive isolating mechanisms—such as behavioral differences, temporal breeding differences, or genetic incompatibilities—ensure that the distinct evolutionary trajectories of separated populations continue, ultimately leading to the formation of separate species.

Geographic Isolation

Geographic isolation occurs when a physical barrier, such as a fire, mountain range, or body of water, divides a population into separate groups. This isolation is a crucial precursor to allopatric speciation because it limits interaction and gene flow between the groups, setting the stage for divergent evolution driven by differing environmental pressures and genetic drift.

Allopatric Speciation

Allopatric speciation is a process in which new species arise when populations of the same species become geographically separated, leading to independent evolutionary paths. The physical separation prevents gene flow between groups, allowing them to accumulate genetic differences over time, which eventually results in reproductive isolation and the emergence of distinct species.

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