Which of the following is an example of sympatric speciation?
A) two populations of salamanders that live on isolated islands and eventually become separate species, unable to interbreed
B) different breeds of dog, which live in different areas of the world, but are able to produce fertile offspring
C) a horse and a donkey, which may interbreed to produce a mule, which is sterile and unable to reproduce
D) two related plant species living in the same area that hybridize, then undergo chromosome doubling, which results in the creation of a third species of plant that is unable to reproduce with either of the two original species
E) three species that evolve from a common ancestral species due to reproductive isolation, and adaptation to different habitats

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Sympatric speciation occurs when two or more populations of a species are geographically isolated from each other but still able to interbreed. In this example, two related plant species living in the same area hybridize and then undergo chromosome doubling to create a third, new species that is reproductively isolated from the original two. This is an example of sympatric speciation because all three species occupy the same geographic area.

Which of the Following Is an Example of Sympatric Speciation