Question

A common means of sympatric speciation is :

• A. Polyploidy
• B. Imposition of geographic barrier
• C. Spatial segregation of mating lines
• D. Temporal segregation of breeding season

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Polyploidy

• Sympatric speciation occurs when populations of a species that share the same habitat become reproductively isolated from each other.
  
• This speciation phenomenon most commonly occurs through polyploidy, in which an offspring or group of offspring will be produced with twice the normal number of chromosomes.
• Where a normal individual has two copies of each chromosome (diploidy), these offspring may have four copies (tetraploidy). A tetraploid individual cannot mate with a diploid individual, creating reproductive isolation.
  

So, the correct option is 'Polyploidy'.