An earthquake creates a chasm that separates a population of squirrels. The two populations of squirrels evolve into two separat
e species. What is the name of the process by which isolated populations of the same species become new species? speciation
reproductive isolation
genetic variation
natural selection
The correct answer is speciation. Speciation is the term that describes the evolutionary process causing populations to evolve into different species. There are four different types of speciation: allopatric, peripatric, parapatric and sympatric. In this case, the process described is an allopatric speciation, the most common of these four types. Allopatric speciation happens when populations are geographically separated, an event that obstructs the gene flow. Since the gene flow stops, the populations evolve in response to the different environments that they live in.
