speciation
18.2 Formation of New Species Speciation occurs along two main pathways: geographic separation allopatric speciation and through mechanisms that occur within a shared habitat sympatric speciation . Both pathways isolate a population reproductively in some form. Mechanisms of reproductive isolation act as barriers between closely related species, enabling them to diverge and exist as genetically independent species. Prezygotic barriers block reproduction prior to formation of a zygote, whereas postzygotic barriers block reproduction after fertilization occurs. For a new species to develop, something must cause a breach in the reproductive barriers. Sympatric speciation can occur through errors in meiosis that form gametes with extra chromosomes polyploidy . Autopolyploidy occurs within a single species, whereas allopolyploidy occurs between closely related species.
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