Which of these is an example of temporal isolation between two species?
View Available Hint(s)
One is a type of primate; the other is a type of marsupial.
One species is nocturnal, and the other species is not.
The average weight of the individuals in one species is 45????; in the other species the average is 290????.
One species is found only in New York, the other only in London.
One species performs a specific courtship dance; the other species does not.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct example of temporal isolation between two species is:
One species is nocturnal, and the other species is not.
Temporal isolation is a prezygotic reproductive barrier where two species reproduce at different times, preventing interbreeding. This can involve differences in daily activity patterns, such as one species being active during the day (diurnal) and another at night (nocturnal), or variations in breeding seasons. When two species have distinct periods of activity or reproduction, they are less likely to encounter each other for mating, leading to reproductive isolation.
In the given example, one species being nocturnal and the other not indicates a difference in their active periods within a 24-hour cycle. This divergence in activity timing reduces the chances of these species meeting and mating, thereby serving as a mechanism of temporal isolation. Such temporal separation is crucial in maintaining species boundaries, especially among closely related species inhabiting the same geographic area.
The other options do not illustrate temporal isolation:
- One is a type of primate; the other is a type of marsupial. This describes a taxonomic difference between two groups but does not pertain to the timing of reproductive activities.
- The average weight of the individuals in one species is 45 kg; in the other species, the average is 290 kg. This highlights a physical difference in body weight between species, which is unrelated to the timing of reproduction.
- One species is found only in New York, the other only in London. This indicates geographic isolation, not temporal isolation. The species are separated by location rather than differences in reproductive timing.
- One species performs a specific courtship dance; the other species does not. This refers to behavioral isolation, where differences in mating behaviors prevent interbreeding, not differences in the timing of reproductive activities.
Understanding temporal isolation is essential in the study of speciation, as it demonstrates how differences in the timing of biological activities can lead to the development of new species by preventing gene flow between populations.