Question

What is speciation? List four factors that could lead to speciation.

Answer 1

Speciation is the evolutionary process by which populations evolve to become distinct species. Four factors which lead to speciation are :

1) Gene flow between the populations of one species is restricted to allow them to diverge.

2) A component of the divergence products a complete barrier to inter-breeding called a mating isolation mechanism.

3) The initial barrier can be either spatial or temporal.

4) Changing climate may isolate population on the mountain peaks or in remnant lakes, or rare migrants may colonize new areas such as Galapagos islands