When Geographic Isolation Occurs, Under What Conditions Might You Expect

Question

When geographic isolation occurs, under what conditions might you expect the most rapid speciation?
A) when there is similarity in the food supply in both locations
B) when the climate is very different in the two locations
C) when the species has a long generation time
D) when one of the two groups becomes extinct

Accepted Answer

When the climate is very different in the two locations, adaptation to the new environment may occur rapidly, leading to speciation. This is because traits that are advantageous in one environment may not be in the other, leading to different selective pressures and potentially different adaptations. Additionally, if the two environments are very different, it may be more difficult for individuals to migrate between the two locations, further promoting genetic divergence and speciation.