You are a biologist on a trip to an island in the South Pacific. While on the island, you are allowed to collect DNA samples from a local species of rat that resembles a species seen on a nearby continent. If your DNA analysis also indicates the two species are closely related, you might conclude that the evolution of the two separate species was an example of _____ speciation through _____.
A)allopatric; dispersal
B)allopatric; vicariance
C)sympatric; dispersal
D)sympatric; vicariance

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Allopatric speciation through dispersal is suggested by the scenario where a species from a nearby continent resembles a local species on an island, implying that the species might have dispersed from the continent to the island and then evolved into a new species due to geographical separation.

You Are a Biologist on a Trip to an Island