Question

Does geographical isolation of individuals of a species lead to the formation of a new species? Provide a suitable explanation.

Answer 1

Geographical isolation:

1. It is the separation of species by physical barriers like oceans, mountains, etc.
2. The geographical isolation of individuals of a species results in speciation, that is the formation of novel species.
3. The spitting of prevailing species into two novel species succeeded by their geographical isolation leads to reproductive isolation.
4. The populations of a species get distinguished into two groups by the accrual of genetic variations in them.
5. These newly produced groups are then isolated by any geographical barrier.
6. For example, the construction of dams along the rivers separates some species of fish as a consequence mating becomes confined between some of the individuals left in the dam.
7. This results in the development of novel species of fish, which are more suited to the new environment and they vary from the true parent species.