Reproductive Isolating Mechanisms

• What are reproductive isolating mechanisms?

  They are mechanisms critical for speciation
• How do reproductive isolating mechanisms function?

  They maintain reproductive isolation between species
• What is the purpose of reproductive isolating mechanisms?

  To prevent different species from producing offspring
• What are the two categories of reproductive isolating mechanisms?

  Pre-zygotic and post-zygotic mechanisms
• What are the types of pre-zygotic isolating mechanisms?

  • Habitat isolation
  • Behavioral isolation
  • Temporal isolation
  • Mechanical isolation
  • Gametic isolation
• What is habitat isolation?

  Organisms live in two different environments
• What is behavioral isolation?

  Mating behaviors are not recognized by others
• What is temporal isolation?

  Different times of year for reproduction
• What is mechanical isolation?

  Reproductive parts do not fit together
• What is gametic isolation?

  Sperm and egg do not recognize each other
• What are the types of post-zygotic isolating mechanisms?

  • Reduced hybrid viability
  • Reduced hybrid fertility
• What is reduced hybrid viability?

  Hybrid organism cannot survive long during development
• What is reduced hybrid fertility?

  Hybrid organism survives but cannot reproduce