Three populations of crickets look very similar, but the males have courtship songs that sound different. What function would this difference in song likely serve if the populations came into contact?
A) both a prezygotic and a postzygotic isolating mechanism
B) intrasexual selection between a male of one population and males of the other two populations
C) intersexual selection between a male of one population and females of the other two populations
D) a prezygotic isolating mechanism
E) a postzygotic isolating mechanism

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The differences in courtship songs would likely serve as a prezygotic isolating mechanism, preventing hybridization between the populations. This is because females are likely to only mate with males that have a courtship song that they recognize as their own population's, leading to reproductive isolation.

Three Populations of Crickets Look Very Similar, but the Males