How may evolution lead to the development of new species (speciation)?
What will be an ideal response?
As selective pressures select from new, randomly generated and existing mutations, new species are possible. It is also possible to obtain two or more species from one. Two prerequisites are necessary for this to occur. First, reproductive isolation is necessary. Reproductive isolation is a result of some physical factor resulting in two or more populations being isolated from each other such that they are unable to interbreed. The second necessary factor is that the different subpopulations must be exposed to different selective pressures. If the selective pressure results in sufficiently different characteristics, then the subpopulations will not be able to interbreed even if they are in contact later.
Speciation is the creation of new species in one of two ways: "the infusion of new variations from mutations and the pressures of natural selection serve to adapt a species to the biotic community and the environment in which it exists" or a species ". . . separates into smaller populations that do not interbreed with one another." Both of these processes increase biodiversity. "Although it can be difficult to imagine, overwhelming evidence from today and patterns from the past inform us that the present array of plants, animals, and microbes has developed through evolution over long periods of time and in every geographic area on Earth. This is the source of our current biodiversity."
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