BIO342H5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Sympatry, Reproductive Isolation, African Great Lakes
Document Summary
Occurs when a single population of the same species is geographically separated into two or more populations by a geographical barrier. Through time the separated populations diverge into separate species. Example - allopatric speciation among chimps and bonobos: congo river, acting as a barrier to movement, has separated chimps from bonobos. Example - allopatric speciation in the grand canyon: formed ~10kya, grand canyon has led to isolation of squirrels, leading to formation on 2 morphologically distinct species - abert and kaibab squirrels. Example - finches first came and colonized a main island and then moved around different islands, separated by water, leading to speciation. Allopatric speciation: believed to be the most important mechanism of speciation, allopatry necessarily creates reproductive isolation, preventing genetic homogenization. Occurs when a single population diverges into two species at its geographic extremes without a physical barrier.
