Several species of sea urchins may inhabit the same tide pool and their reproductive periods overlap.Although they practice external fertilization,they seldom interbreed because eggs produce chemicals that are only attractive to sperm of their own species.This is an example of a ________ barrier that ________.

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This is an example of a prezygotic barrier, as it occurs before the formation of a zygote. The chemical signals produced by the eggs prevent sperm of different species from fertilizing them, which prevents gamete fusion. There is no indication of geographic or temporal isolation, and postzygotic barriers involve events that occur after fertilization has taken place, such as the production of sterile offspring or embryonic death.

Several Species of Sea Urchins May Inhabit the Same Tide