Mechanisms of Evolution

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Geographical Isolation

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A mechanism of evolution where two populations of the same species are separated by physical barriers, preventing them from interbreeding.

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Founder Effect

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A type of genetic drift that occurs when a small group of organisms breaks away from a larger population to establish a new colony, leading to reduced genetic diversity.

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Natural Selection

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The process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring, leading to evolutionary changes.

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Genetic Drift

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A random process that can cause allele frequencies to change in a population, especially in small populations.

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Speciation

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The formation of new and distinct species in the course of evolution, often due to genetic differences that prevent interbreeding.

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Gene Flow

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The transfer of genetic material between populations, which can introduce new alleles and increase genetic diversity.

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Mutation

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A change in the DNA sequence of an organism, which can lead to genetic variation necessary for evolution.

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Adaptive Radiation

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The process by which organisms diversify rapidly into a wide variety of forms to adapt to different environments.

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Temporal Isolation

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A form of reproductive isolation where two populations breed at different times, preventing interbreeding.

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Behavioral Isolation

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A mechanism of reproductive isolation where differences in mating behaviors prevent different species from mating.