1 of 6

Types of Prezygotic Isolation Mechanisms

Flies mating on wood. Photo Credit: Getty/Pamela Flora / EyeEm

Updated August 29, 2015.
In order for different species to diverge from common ancestors and drive evolution,
reproductive isolation must occur. There are several types of reproductive isolation that lead
to speciation. One major type is called prezygotic isolation and it happens before fertilization
occurs between gametes. Basically, prezygotic isolation keeps different species from sexually
reproducing. If individuals cannot reproduce, they are considered to be different species and
diverge on the tree of life.
There are several types of prezygotic isolation that range from incompatibility of gametes, to
behaviors that result in incompatibility, and even a type of isolation that keeps individuals
from physically being able to breed.
2 of 6

Mechanical Isolation

Wasp and Red Flower. Photo Credit: Getty/Christian Wilt

Mechanical isolation is probably the simplest concept that keeps individuals from being able
to reproduce offspring with each other. Simply put, mechanical isolation is the
incompatibility of sexual organs. They just do not fit together. It may be the shape of the
reproductive organs not being compatible, or size differences that prohibit the individuals
from coming together.
In plants, mechanical isolation is a bit different.
Since size and shape are irrelevant to reproduction in plants, mechanical isolation is usually
due to the use of a different pollinator for the plants. For instance, a plant that is structured so
a bee can pollinate it will not be compatible with a flower that relies on hummingbirds to
spread its pollen. This is still a result of differing shapes, but not the shape of the actual
gametes. Instead, it's the incompatibility of the shape of the flower and the pollinator.
3 of 6

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

Blue Footed Booby Mating Dance. Photo Credit: Getty/Jessie Reeder

Another type of prezygotic isolation between species has to do with the behaviors of the
individuals, and in particular the behaviors around mating time. Even if two populations of
different species are both mechanically compatible and temporally compatible, their actual
mating ritual behavior could be enough to keep the species in reproductive isolation from
each other.
Mating rituals, along with other necessary mating behaviors like mating calls, are very
necessary for males and females of the same species to indicate it is time to sexually
reproduce.
If the mating ritual is rejected or not recognized, then not mating will occur and the species
are reproductively isolated from each other.
For instance, the blue footed booby bird has a very elaborate mating "dance" the males must
do to woo the female. The female can either then accept or reject the advances of the male.
Other species of birds do not have the same mating dance and will be fully ignored by the
female meaning they have no chance at reproducing with a female blue footed booby.
5 of 6

Habitat Isolation

A flock of Rainbow Lorikeets perched on a tree. Photo Credit: Getty/Martin Harvey

Even very closely related species have a preference of where they live and where they
reproduce. Sometimes, the preferred locations of the reproductive events are not compatible
and this leads to what is known as habitat isolation. Obviously, if individuals of two different
species live nowhere near each other, there will be no opportunity to reproduce and
reproductive isolation will lead to even more speciation.
However, even different species that live in the same area may not be compatible due to their
preferred place of reproduction. There are some types of birds that prefer different types
of trees, or even different parts of the same tree, to lay their eggs and make their nests. If
similar species of birds are in the area, they will choose a different location and they will not
interbreed. This keeps the species separate and unable to reproduce with each other.
6 of 6

Gametic Isolation

A marine ecosystem. Photo Credit: Getty/Raimundo Fernandez Diez

During sexual reproduction, the female egg is fused with the male sperm and together they
create a zygote. If the sperm and egg are not compatible, this fertilization cannot occur and
the zygote will not form. The sperm may not even be attracted to the egg due to the chemical
signals released by the egg. Other times, the sperm just cannot penetrate the egg because of
its own chemical make up. Either one of these reasons is sufficient enough to keep fusion
from happening and the zygote will not form.
This type of reproductive isolation is especially important for species that reproduce
externally in the water. For instance, most species of fish have females that will just release
her eggs into the water. Male fish of that species will come along and release their sperm all
over the eggs. However, since this happens in the water, some of the sperm will get carried
away by the water molecules and moved around the area. If there were not gametic isolation
mechanisms in place, any sperm would be able to fuse with any egg and there would be
hybrids of just about everything floating around. Gametic isolation ensures that only sperm of
the same species can penetrate the egg of that species and no others.

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Types of Prezygotic Isolation Mechanisms

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1 of 6

Types of Prezygotic Isolation Mechanisms

Flies mating on wood. Photo Credit: Getty/Pamela Flora / EyeEm

Updated August 29, 2015.
In order for different species to diverge from common ancestors and drive evolution,
reproductive isolation must occur. There are several types of reproductive isolation that lead
to speciation. One major type is called prezygotic isolation and it happens before fertilization
occurs between gametes. Basically, prezygotic isolation keeps different species from sexually
reproducing. If individuals cannot reproduce, they are considered to be different species and
diverge on the tree of life.
There are several types of prezygotic isolation that range from incompatibility of gametes, to
behaviors that result in incompatibility, and even a type of isolation that keeps individuals
from physically being able to breed.
2 of 6

Mechanical Isolation

Wasp and Red Flower. Photo Credit: Getty/Christian Wilt

Mechanical isolation is probably the simplest concept that keeps individuals from being able
to reproduce offspring with each other. Simply put, mechanical isolation is the
incompatibility of sexual organs. They just do not fit together. It may be the shape of the
reproductive organs not being compatible, or size differences that prohibit the individuals
from coming together.
In plants, mechanical isolation is a bit different.
Since size and shape are irrelevant to reproduction in plants, mechanical isolation is usually
due to the use of a different pollinator for the plants. For instance, a plant that is structured so
a bee can pollinate it will not be compatible with a flower that relies on hummingbirds to
spread its pollen. This is still a result of differing shapes, but not the shape of the actual
gametes. Instead, it's the incompatibility of the shape of the flower and the pollinator.
3 of 6

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

Blue Footed Booby Mating Dance. Photo Credit: Getty/Jessie Reeder

Another type of prezygotic isolation between species has to do with the behaviors of the
individuals, and in particular the behaviors around mating time. Even if two populations of
different species are both mechanically compatible and temporally compatible, their actual
mating ritual behavior could be enough to keep the species in reproductive isolation from
each other.
Mating rituals, along with other necessary mating behaviors like mating calls, are very
necessary for males and females of the same species to indicate it is time to sexually
reproduce.
If the mating ritual is rejected or not recognized, then not mating will occur and the species
are reproductively isolated from each other.
For instance, the blue footed booby bird has a very elaborate mating "dance" the males must
do to woo the female. The female can either then accept or reject the advances of the male.
Other species of birds do not have the same mating dance and will be fully ignored by the
female meaning they have no chance at reproducing with a female blue footed booby.
5 of 6

Habitat Isolation

A flock of Rainbow Lorikeets perched on a tree. Photo Credit: Getty/Martin Harvey

Even very closely related species have a preference of where they live and where they
reproduce. Sometimes, the preferred locations of the reproductive events are not compatible
and this leads to what is known as habitat isolation. Obviously, if individuals of two different
species live nowhere near each other, there will be no opportunity to reproduce and
reproductive isolation will lead to even more speciation.
However, even different species that live in the same area may not be compatible due to their
preferred place of reproduction. There are some types of birds that prefer different types
of trees, or even different parts of the same tree, to lay their eggs and make their nests. If
similar species of birds are in the area, they will choose a different location and they will not
interbreed. This keeps the species separate and unable to reproduce with each other.
6 of 6

Gametic Isolation

A marine ecosystem. Photo Credit: Getty/Raimundo Fernandez Diez

During sexual reproduction, the female egg is fused with the male sperm and together they
create a zygote. If the sperm and egg are not compatible, this fertilization cannot occur and
the zygote will not form. The sperm may not even be attracted to the egg due to the chemical
signals released by the egg. Other times, the sperm just cannot penetrate the egg because of
its own chemical make up. Either one of these reasons is sufficient enough to keep fusion
from happening and the zygote will not form.
This type of reproductive isolation is especially important for species that reproduce
externally in the water. For instance, most species of fish have females that will just release
her eggs into the water. Male fish of that species will come along and release their sperm all
over the eggs. However, since this happens in the water, some of the sperm will get carried
away by the water molecules and moved around the area. If there were not gametic isolation
mechanisms in place, any sperm would be able to fuse with any egg and there would be
hybrids of just about everything floating around. Gametic isolation ensures that only sperm of
the same species can penetrate the egg of that species and no others.
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The prezygotic reproductive isolation mechanisms are :

Habitat: living beings from different areas cannot mate as they cannot possibly meet
either.

Behavioural: during the selection of a possible mate, individuals from different

species may discard each other as they dont have the same mating rituals.

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.

The postzygotic reproductive isolation mechnisms are the following:

Hybrid viability: sometimes the hybrid dies prematurely.

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 sources of information are these videos:

Prezygotic reproductive isolation

Postzygotic reproductive isolation

REPRODUCTIVE ISOLATING MECHANISMS

The biological definition of a species is a group of similar organisms that can
interbreed to produce fertile, viable offspring. Some extend this to say that this
reproduction must occur under natural, not artificial (e.g., in captivity) situations.
When an ancestral species gives rise to two new species, what determines whether
the two new species can reproduce?
Consider the mechanisms that restrict gene flow: reproductive isolating
mechanisms.
PREZYGOTIC ISOLATING MECHANISMS prevent the formation of viable
zygotes.
Ecological Isolation

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.

Superb Bird of Paradise

Teminck Tragopan
Superb Lyrebird

 Malaysian Fireflies

These rituals prevent the wasted effort of mating with a partner who will not
produce fertile, viable offspring with you.
Mechanical Isolation

Morphological differences prevent mating/pollination.

The amazing partnership of the Bucket Orchid and Orchid Bee is so precise that
if either one went extinct, the other would follow,. No other orchid can possibly
cross-pollinate the Bucket Orchid.
In some snail species, the direction of shell coiling is controlled by a single
(maternal effect) gene. Snails with left-coiling shells cannot mate with snails
having right-coiling shells. This could eventually lead to further differentiation and
speciation. example

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.

POSTZYGOTIC ISOLATING MECHANISMS prevent hybrids from passing

on their genes.
Hybrid Inviability
A zygote may form with union of sperm and egg from the two species, but
the embryo dies after a few cell divisions. The genetic information from
male and female parents is insufficient to carry the organism through
morphogenesis.

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

Other Interesting Hybrids (or are they?)

Hybrid Breakdown

successive generations of hybrids suffer greatly lowered fertility --> sterility.

Eventually, they are selected out of the population.

Hybridization Between Species

If there is interbreeding between two closely related species, there are several
possible outcomes.
Species Reinforcement - hybrids have lower fitness than either parent
species; reproductive isolation is maintained due to lack of hybrid
survival/reproduction.
Species Fusion - two species in a hybrid zone may have weak reproductive
isolating barriers, and the two species may, over time, eventually share a
common gene pool.
Species Stability/Hybrid Equilibrium - Hybrids are continually produced
by the two parent populations in a hybrid zone. A narrow hybrid zone can
foster constant hybridization with reduced hybrid survival (e.g., Bombina)
hybrid zone in Eastern Europe.

 Hybrid Speciation - Hybrids may actually be reproductively superior to

parent populations, and if they tend to breed with each other, this can result
in what could be termed hybrid speciation.