Question

For each scenario given, decide whether allopatric or sympatric speciation would be the likely result. An island splits in two and the halves drift apart, separating a population of native birds. The development of a road divides a population of rabbits. In a population of mice, some mice only eat fruit while others only eat seeds. Some female African cichlids only mate with blue-colored males, while others only mate with red-colored males. Some beetles in a population only mate at night, while others only mate during the day.

Answer 1

Answer:

An island splits in two and the halves drift apart, separating a population of native birds --> Allopatric

The development of a road divides a population of rabbits ---> allopatric

In a population of mice, some mice only eat fruit while others only eat seeds.-----> sympatric

Some female African cichlids only mate with blue-colored males, while others only mate with red-colored males.-----> sympatric

Some beetles in a population only mate at night, while others only mate during the day.------> sympatric

Explanation:

• The formation of new species in course of evolution is referred to as speciation.

• Allopatric speciation is also called as geographical or vicariant speciation. It is a type of speciation in which members of the same species get separated from each other due to some geographical barrier from each other so that there is no gene flow between them and thus, they evolve into different species.

• Thus, when the island splits or the road divides the members of the species become isolated from each other geographically and thus, this type of speciation is allopatric.

• Sympatric speciation is the one when new members of the species arise while they continue to inhabit the same geographical region.

• Thus, when cichlids mate with specific colored males, or beetles mate at night and day or mice eat fruits or seeds then in each case they are continuing to live in the same geographical area however, their behaviour difference would lead to speciation. Therefore, these cases are that of sympatric speciation.