7.10: Prezygotic Barriers

Question 1

What is habitat isolation?

Answer 1

• Species will live in different areas or they occupy different habitats within the same area
  Ex. In western North America, the mountain bluebird lives at high elevation while the eastern blue bird lives at low elevation

Question 2

What is temporal isolation?

Answer 2

• Species breed at different times of the day, year, or season
  (Reproductive cycles do not match up)
  Ex. Western spotted skunk mates in lates summer, eastern spotted skunk mates in late winter

Question 3

What is behavioral isolation?

Answer 3

• unique behavioral patterns and rituals separate species

Ex. The blue footed boobies will only mate after a courtship ritual

Question 4

What is mechanical isolation?

Answer 4

• the reproductive anatomy of one species does not fit with the anatomy of another species
  Ex. Snails can have varying spirals on shells, which prevents mating

Question 5

What is gametic isolation?

Answer 5

• Proteins on the surface of gametes do not allow for the egg and sperm to fuse
  Ex. The sperm and eggs of red and purple sea urchins are released in the water, but cannot fertilize each other