In some states, populations of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and white-tail deer (O. virginianus) can occupy the same forest h
abitat and can be found mixing together in certain areas. Both animals are the hosts for ticks of the species (Dermacentor variabilis). If populations of these ticks show host preference such that those feeding upon white-tail deer though possible will not transfer to feeding on mule deer and vice versa, and they also mate at different times of the year, then which of the following terms might be applied to these two populations of ticks? A) sympatric speciation B) habitat isolation C) temporal isolation D) actually all of these terms might be applied to describe these two tick populations.
The correct answer is option B) "habitat isolation".
Explanation:
The two populations of ticks herein described have preference in one of two populations: either over mule deers or white-tail deers. One term that might be applied to describe these populations is habitat isolation. Habitat isolation occurs when the chances of mating between individuals of the same species are lowered because of differences in habitat preference. This is the case for the two populations of ticks, where because of differences in host preference, the ticks that feed from mule deers are isolated from the ones that feed from white-tail deers and vice-versa.
The answer is D) actually all of these terms might be applied to describe these two tick populations.
Explanation:
All options can happen, as for habitat isolation to occur, populations do not require that they be separated by a very large distance. While temporal isolation means that one of the two populations is isolated in time, therefore, this is a process that would prevent both species from pairing because their reproduction would take place at different instants of time. Finally, sympathetic speciation is a mechanism by which species evolve from a single ancestral species while they are living in the same territorial region.
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