Question

Wild duck and pintail duck produce fertile offsprings only in captivity but seldom do so in natural habitats because of

• A. Postreproductive isolation
• B. Mechanical isolation
• C. Genetic drift
• D. Ethological isolation

Answer 1

The correct option is D Ethological isolation

Ethological isolation is defined as the failure of individuals of species with recent common ancestry (i.e., related species or semispecies) to produce hybrid offspring because differences in their behaviour prevent successful mating taking place.
The mallard or wild duck (Anas platyrhynchos) is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand, Australia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, the Falkland Islands and South Africa.
The pintail or northern pintail is a duck with wide geographic distribution that breeds in the northern areas of Europe, Asia and North America. It is migratory and winters south of its breeding range to the equator.
Ethological isolation stops their breeding in the natural habitats, whereas they breed in captivity.