1.C.

2 Reproductive Isolation

Speciation may occur when two

populations become reproductively
isolated from each other.
Speciation is the origin of new species and the
source of biological diversity.
A species is a group of populations whose
members have the potential to produce
fertile offspring.
In reproductive isolation barriers impede
members of two different species from
producing fertile offspring. Stops gene
flow.
 Reproductive
isolation

Prezygotic Postzygotic
Barriers Barriers
Prezygotic barriers impede mating or hinder
fertilization.
In geographic isolation, the populations are
separated by a physical barrier, such as a
mountain range or body of water.
In habitat isolation populations encounter each other
rarely.
In temporal isolation populations breed at different
times of day, season, or years
In behavioral isolation populations have incompatible
courtship rituals, pheromones, bird songs.
 In mechanical isolation morphological
differences between the genitalia prevent
fertilization.
 In gametic isolation the sperm and egg are
incompatible. Very important in aquatic species
which release their gametes into the water.
Postzygotic barriers prevent the hybrid
zygote from becoming a fertile adult
In reduced hybrid viability genes of different species
may interact and impair hybrid development.
In reduced hybrid fertility sterile hybrids are
created due to uneven chromosome number.
In hybrid breakdown the hybrid is fertile, but the next
generation sterile.
 Sometimes, reproductive barriers are not
sufficient to explain speciation, as in fossils
and prokaryotes.
 The morphological species concept
characterizes species by body shape, size
and other features.

• can be applied to
asexual organisms
• can be used
without knowing
extent of gene flow
• but it is subjective
 The paleontological species concept
defines morphologically distinct species
from the fossil record.
The phylogenetic species concept defines
a species as a set of organisms with a
unique genetic history (one branch on tree
of life).

A species shares
common physical
characteristics or
molecular
sequences.
 Learning Objectives
LO 1.22 The student is able to use data from a
real or simulated population(s), based on graphs
or models of types of selection, to predict what
will happen to the population in the future. [See
SP 6.4]
LO 1.23 The student is able to justify the
selection of data that address questions related
to reproductive isolation and speciation.