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What is geographic isolation?

Updated: 4/28/2022
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12y ago

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A population that becomes divided (isolated) by a physical barrier, allowing each of the separated groups an independent evolutionary path.

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Q: What is geographic isolation?
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What are three ways isolation occur?

1. When new species form.2. When a group is separated from the rest of its species.3. When members of the isolated group can no longer mate with the rest of species.


Which increase speciation?

Geographic isolation Low geneflow.


Why does geographic isolation cause speciation (Apex)?

it prevents gene flow between populations


Does geographic isolation contribute to evolution-?

A geographic barrier eg mountain range, river, ocean, desert, can split a species into two populations which can no longer mix with each other. By splitting up a species into two separate populations a geographic barrier can lead to the formation of a new species. The two separate populations start to develop in isolation from each other. Different mutations will occur in the two populations and natural selection will adapt them to the slightly different conditions in the two areas. Given enough time the two populations will become so different that if they are brought together again they will no longer be able to interbreed ie they will have become two different species. This is called allopatric speciation.


What is the difference between geographic isolation and habitat differentiation?

Geographic isolation is when a population is separated by a river/canyon or some impassable terrain. Habitat isolation is when members of a population live in a different type of habitat, say some live in the forest at the bottom of the mountain, while others live further up the mountain. These would then become different populations and evolve to perhaps form two different species.