Geographical and reproductive isolation of organisms gradually leads to speciation.

Question

Read the following statements and justify the same in your own words with the help of suitable examples:

Geographical and reproductive isolation of organisms gradually leads to speciation.

Answer 1

• Every species survives in specific geographical conditions. The requirements of food and habitat, is specific for each species. Their reproductive ability and period is also different.
• Therefore, the individuals from one species cannot reproduce with individuals from other species.
• When they are separated by a distance or geographical barriers they are said to be isolated geographically.
• When they cannot reproduce with each other, they are said to be isolated reproductively.
• The ancestor species of both these subspecies may be the same but due to isolation over a very long-time duration, there is genetic variation between the two. Therefore, the isolation leads to speciation.