Mechanical Isolation
Temporal Isolation
Shiras bull Moose Alces alces shirasi courting cow Moose, Grand Teton National Park,
Wyoming, USA : Stock Photo View similar imagesMore from this photographerDownload
comp Caption:Shiras Bull Moose Courting Cow Moose Shiras bull Moose Alces alces shirasi
courting cow Moose, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA. Photo Credit:
Getty/Danita Delimont
Different species tend to have different breeding seasons. The timing of when females are
fertile leads to temporal isolation. Similar species may be physically compatible, but may still
not reproduce due to mating seasons being different times of the year. If the females of one
species are fertile during a given month, but the males are not able to reproduce at that time
of the year, then there will be reproductive isolation between the two species.
( spesies yang berbeda cenderung memiliki musim kawin yamg berbeda. Mmusim je
Sometimes, mating seasons of very similar species will overlap somewhat. This is especially
true if the species live in different areas where there is no chance for hybridization. However,
it has been shown that similar species that live in the same area will not have an overlapping
mating time even if they do when they are in different environments. Most likely, this is
an adaptation caused by reducing competition for resources and mates.
4 of 6
Behavioral Isolation
Habitat Isolation
Gametic Isolation
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1 of 6
Mechanical Isolation
Temporal Isolation
Shiras bull Moose Alces alces shirasi courting cow Moose, Grand Teton National Park,
Wyoming, USA : Stock Photo View similar imagesMore from this photographerDownload
comp Caption:Shiras Bull Moose Courting Cow Moose Shiras bull Moose Alces alces shirasi
courting cow Moose, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA. Photo Credit:
Getty/Danita Delimont
Different species tend to have different breeding seasons. The timing of when females are
fertile leads to temporal isolation. Similar species may be physically compatible, but may still
not reproduce due to mating seasons being different times of the year. If the females of one
species are fertile during a given month, but the males are not able to reproduce at that time
of the year, then there will be reproductive isolation between the two species.
Sometimes, mating seasons of very similar species will overlap somewhat. This is especially
true if the species live in different areas where there is no chance for hybridization. However,
it has been shown that similar species that live in the same area will not have an overlapping
mating time even if they do when they are in different environments. Most likely, this is
an adaptation caused by reducing competition for resources and mates.
4 of 6
Behavioral Isolation
Habitat Isolation
Gametic Isolation
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Habitat: living beings from different areas cannot mate as they cannot possibly meet
either.
Temporal: individuals from different species may be in season at different times in the
year so they wont be interested in copulating at the same time.
Mechanical: different species may have different sex organs which arent compatible.
It just wont fit.
Gametic: for fertilisation to occur, the sperm must reach the ovum. For this to happen
they usually attract each other through chemical means, but the chemicals might vary
from one specie to another. In this case gametes wont recognise each other and
fertilization wont take place.
Hybrid fertility: even if an offspring is produced from the mating of different species
usually they are infertile as they generally have a random mixed number of
chromosomes (so its not the same even between hybrids).
Hybrid breakdown: if the hybrid results to be fertile, the hybrid population might
dissappear along time as from one generation to the next they may result weaker, less
fertile, etc.
The geographic ranges of two species overlap, but their ecological needs or
breeding requirements differ enough to cause reproductive isolation.
example
In central and northern California, the Red-legged Frog (Rana aurora)
breeds in fast-moving, ephemeral streams.
Artificially introduced Bullfrogs (Rana catesbiana) breed in permanent
ponds.
The metamorphosis times of the two species' tadpoles are correspondingly
different.
Temporal Isolation
two species whose ranges overlap have different periods of sexual activity or
breeding seasons
example
The Red-legged Frog (Rana aurora, left) breeding season lasts from January
to March.
The closely related Yellow-legged Frog (Rana boylii, right) breeds from late
March through May.
example
Drosophila persimilis breeds in early morning, while closely related
Drosophila pseudoobscura breeds in the afternoon
=
Behavioral Isolation
Species with complex courtship rituals (breeding calls, mating dances, etc.) usually
exhibit a stereotyped "give-and-take" between male and female before actual
mating takes place.
Malaysian Fireflies
These rituals prevent the wasted effort of mating with a partner who will not
produce fertile, viable offspring with you.
Mechanical Isolation
Gametic Isolation
In this case, sperm and ova of the two species are chemically (genetically)
incompatible, and will not fuse to form a zygote.
example
Sea urchins do not mate. They broadcast their gametes into the ocean where sperm
and eggs fuse to form zygotes and then develop into larvae. The Giant Red Urchin
(Strongylocentrotus franciscanus and Purple Urchin (Strongylocentrotus
purpuratus) cohabit the rocky intertidal along the western U.S., but they do not
interbreed. Their gametes are genetically/chemically incompatible, maintaining
species integrity.
Hybrid Sterility
Viable hybrid is produced (often physically more vigorous than either parent), but
is unable to reproduce due to meiotic problems.
examples
Horse (Equus caballus) x Donkey (Equus asinus) = Mule or Hinny