An evolutionary biologist discovered a new type of fish on the shores of Souther

Question

An evolutionary biologist discovered a new type of fish on the shores of Southern Florida. She noticed that there are two populations of this fish, one on the northern shore and one on the western shore. The south shore is preventing the two populations from breeding. What is the evolutionary term for the south shore and for the type of speciation that is occurring in this situation? Later the biologist realizes that these populations meet at the northern tip of the South shore. Despite this the two populations do not mate with each other. What is the evolutionary term for the type of speciation that is occurring where the two populations meet?

Explanation / Answer

In the first situation where the South shore is preventing the two populations from breeding, in terms of evolution this is a situation of geographic isolation i.e. the two different populations are unable to breed in the southern shore as it is acting as a barrier. Such a speciation is called Allopatric.

In the second situation, reproductive isolation has lead to genetic drift leading to sympatric speciation as the new species will evolve from the same ancestral species while inhabiting the same geographic region i.e. northern tip of the South shore.

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