Reproductive isolating mechanisms evolve

Question

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Reproductive isolating mechanisms evolve as secondary results of the isolation of a population from the rest of its species. When a population is geographically or reproductively isolated from the rest of its species, various genetic, ecological, and behavioral factors can contribute to the evolution of barriers preventing interbreeding between the isolated population and the rest of the species. Over time, these barriers can become more pronounced and effective, leading to the evolution of distinct reproductive isolating mechanisms that reinforce the separation of populations and can ultimately lead to speciation. However, the initial isolation of populations is generally not the result of an explicit effort to create new species, but rather a natural consequence of factors like range expansion or niche specialization.

Reproductive Isolating Mechanisms Evolve