Question

To generate new species, a species has to become reproductively isolated. Below are the types of ways to become reproductively isolated. Using specific evidence from the case study, circle the types of isolation that Rhagoletis is showing and be able to explain why. There can be more than one answer for this!

Ecological isolation

Temporal isolation

Behavioral Isolation

Mechanical Isolation

Gametic isolation

Hybrid inviability

Hybrid infertility

Answer 1

Answer: Rhagoletis is an example of sympatric evolution. The sympatric speciation is the evolution of species from the surviving ancestral species; both continue to survive in same geographical region. This type of isolation of different species due to reproductive isolation mechanism. The reproductive isolation in sympatric evolution is due to

In the given list isolation mechanisms all mechanisms are involves for the Rhagoletis evolutions:

1) Ecological Isolation: Different species of populations are separated by a slightly different niche.

2) Seasonal Isolation (temporal isolation): The breading seasons of two closely related population do not match

3) Sexual isolation (Behavioural isolation): One or both sexes of a species initiate mating behaviours that does not acts as a stimulus to the opposite sex of a closely related population

4) Gametic Isolation: Incompability of sex cell with bodily environment

5) Mechanical isolation: Population do not mate because of an incompatibility of the male and female sex organs of the individuals

6) Hybrid inviability: Hybride do not produce viable offsprings.

7) Hybrid sterility: Hybrids do not survive or reproduce (mule)