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Multiple Choice
Which of the following scenarios best describes allopatric speciation?
A
Two populations of the same species evolve differences while living in the same geographic area.
B
A single population rapidly diversifies into many new species in response to the availability of new ecological niches.
C
Hybrid offspring between two species are fertile and backcross with parent species.
D
A population is divided by a geographic barrier, leading to the formation of two distinct species.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Understand the concept of allopatric speciation. Allopatric speciation occurs when a population is geographically separated, preventing gene flow between the groups. Over time, genetic differences accumulate, leading to the formation of distinct species.
Step 2: Analyze the scenarios provided in the problem. Each scenario describes a different mechanism of speciation or evolutionary process. Focus on identifying the one that involves geographic separation.
Step 3: Eliminate options that do not involve geographic barriers. For example, scenarios involving populations evolving differences in the same geographic area or hybrid offspring do not describe allopatric speciation.
Step 4: Identify the scenario that explicitly mentions a geographic barrier dividing a population. This matches the definition of allopatric speciation.
Step 5: Confirm that the correct answer aligns with the concept of allopatric speciation, which is the division of a population by a geographic barrier, leading to the formation of two distinct species.