SUMMARY
Reproductive isolating mechanisms prevent interbreeding between two species whose ranges overlap. The evolution of reproductive isolating mechanisms between a population and other members of that species is an important step in the speciation process.

Reproductive isolating mechanisms can be divided into two categories: prezygotic and postzygotic barriers. Prezygotic barriers include temporal isolation, habitat isolation, behavioral isolation, mechanical isolation, and gametic isolation. Postzygotic barriers include hybrid inviability, hybrid sterility, and hybrid breakdown.

Activity
Return to Part 4