Geographicalisolation - two populations of the same species becoming geographically isolated (separated)
Process of speciation
geographical isolation
genetic variation (mutation occurs)
natural selection (those with environmentally desirable traits live longer and pass the traits on)
leads to genetic divergence, populations being unable to interbreed to produce fertile offspring
at this point, they become two different species
In addition to his work on evolution, Wallace made a significant contribution to the theory of speciation.
Most people think that Charles Darwin was alone in thinking about natural selection. Alfred Russel Wallace wrote to Darwin in 1858, expressing his similar thinking. Both authors had:
island research - spending significant time on islands, helping their research on evolution because the isolation of island populations led to enhanced speciation rates
joint writings
competition - darwin accelerated the publication of his book to be the first of the two to publish
In what year did Darwin and Wallace produce joint writings?
1858
Besides evolution, what theory did Alfred Wallace make a significant contribution to?
