New species arising within the same area, often through polyploidy or ecological specialisation.
It occurs without geographic barriers. In plants, autopolyploidy or allopolyploidy gives instant reproductive isolation: about 70 percent of flowering plants have polyploid ancestry. In animals, disruptive selection and assortative mating may split populations, as in cichlids in crater lakes.
New species arising within the same area, often through polyploidy or ecological specialisation.
Sympatric Speciation is one of the 53 topics in Evolution. It is rated Intermediate, so it suits learners who already know the core vocabulary. Related topics in this area include Speciation, Reproductive Isolation, Allopatric Speciation.
Rhagoletis apple maggot flies are diverging by host plant preference.
Work through the Beginner topics in Evolution first, such as Evolution, Natural Selection, Charles Darwin, then return to Sympatric Speciation. Intermediate topics assume the Beginner vocabulary.
The closest topics to Sympatric Speciation are Speciation, Reproductive Isolation, Allopatric Speciation, Disruptive Selection. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Sympatric Speciation. To practise the whole of Evolution, use the Evolution quiz.
Sympatric Speciation: New species arising within the same area, often through polyploidy or ecological specialisation. Speciation: The formation of new species when populations diverge enough to become reproductively isolated. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Speciation and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Evolution quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.
The formation of new species when populations diverge enough to become reproductively isolated.
🦎 EvolutionPrezygotic and postzygotic barriers that prevent gene exchange between species.
🦎 EvolutionSpeciation after a geographic barrier separates populations, as with Darwin's finches on separate islands.
🦎 EvolutionSelection favouring both extremes over the average, which may lead to divergence.
🦎 Evolution