Asked by Melissa Preston on Jun 08, 2024
Verified
Sympatric speciation occurred in the cichlid fishes within the same lake in Africa. How could this occur without physical separation?
Sympatric Speciation
The process of speciation that occurs when populations of a species that share the same habitat diverge into separate species without physical separation.
Cichlid Fishes
A diverse group of fish known for their interesting behaviors, including their complex mating rituals and parental care.
- Comprehend and recognize the diverse mechanisms of evolution and the processes of species formation.
- Explain the mechanisms responsible for sympatric and allopatric speciation.
Verified Answer
HG
Hilal GökselJun 14, 2024
Final Answer :
There are differences in the water in different parts of the lake. Some areas receive a lot of sunlight while other deeper areas are darker. The species have different retinal pigments that are more sensitive to blue light in the shallow, lighter areas and other species have retinal pigments that are more sensitive to red light in the deeper areas. The males in the shallow part of the lake are colored blue so the females of that species choose blue males for mates while the males are redder in color deeper in the lake. Thus, mutations in genes that affect color perception are likely to affect a female's choice of mates. Such mutations are probably the way sympatric speciation occurs in these fish.
Learning Objectives
- Comprehend and recognize the diverse mechanisms of evolution and the processes of species formation.
- Explain the mechanisms responsible for sympatric and allopatric speciation.
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