In the 16th century, a Spanish ship explored a Pacific Island that had a small mountain range separating it. Mice that were on the ship escaped onto the island on both sides of the mountain range. After decades of separation, the two populations developed different numbers of chromosomes, resulting in reproductive isolation that prevented any future interbreeding. This speciation event is an example of ____.
A) allopatric speciation
B) sympatric speciation
C) the founder effect
D) inbreeding
E) gene flow

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Allopatric speciation occurs when populations of a species are geographically separated, leading to reproductive isolation and the development of new species, as illustrated by the mice populations separated by the mountain range.

In the 16th Century, a Spanish Ship Explored a Pacific