By Mayurdan Gadhavi
Meaning of Isolation:
The first step in the development of a new
species is isolation. A population should split up
into two or more separate demes (Subdivision)
each with its own gene pool. These demes
(Subdivision) must be isolated from one another.
If genes are exchanged between them they will
effectively behave as one population.
If they are isolated, mutation and selection can
operate independently in the two populations
and each can develop into a distinct species.
How did the mouse cross
the river?
Chances are, with a river
like this, it didn't.
If a population of mice
becomes divided into two
as a river forms or some
other geographic division
occurs, will that population
eventually become two
distinct populations and
two separate species?
Biologists today divide isolating mechanisms
into two major categories based on whether
they happen in different locations
(allopatric = “other fatherland”) or a
single location (sympatric = “same
fatherland”).
1. Isolation by Time
The palaeontological history of animals and plants
suggests that the population at one time is always the
descendant of the one living earlier. In case of straight
evolution one species simply gets transferred
gradually into a new species through accumulating
genetic differences.
If the changes are great enough then the biologists
called the population at two different times as two
different species.
This may well be illustrated with the sequential fossil
records of the evolution of horse family.
According to G.G. Simpson horse evolved some 16
million years ago in Eocene.
2. Isolation by Distance (Spatial Isolation)
Sheer distance apart may also act as an isolating
factor for a species which occupies a great range
of area, which is unbroken by effective barriers.
Its example is wrens (birds) of South America.
Wrens are found all over the continent but the
wrens of one region differ from those of the other
in colour patterns, size, proportions and habits.
It shows that without any barrier, sheer distance
apart tends to produce local races (subspecies).
3. Geographical Isolation
It is the most common type of isolation and
occurs when an original population is divided
into two or more groups by geographical
barriers such as a river, desert, glacier,
mountain or ocean, all of which prevent
interbreeding between them, then in the
course of time different mutations may
become incorporated in the gene pools of the
different groups.
3. Geographical Isolation
Often these differences are of such a nature
that the separated groups, when they come in
contact again, do not interbreed, thus,
species have been formed by geographical
isolation.
3. Geographical Isolation
Often these differences are of such a nature
that the separated groups, when they come in
contact again, do not interbreed, thus,
species have been formed by geographical
isolation.
The classic example of continuing evolution
by geographical isolation is that described by
Darwin for finches.
4. Reproductive Isolation
In sexually reproducing organisms species can be
defined as Mendelian populations between which
the gene exchange is prevented by reproductive
isolation.
An isolating mechanism is any genetically
conditioned barrier to gene exchange between
populations (Dobzhansky, 1976).
In simple terms isolating mechanisms are those
which prevent successful reproduction between
members of two or more populations (viz.,closely
related species) that have descended from the
same original population.
TYPES OF ISOLATING MECHANISMS
Most modern evolutionists such as Mecham (1961), Mayr
(1948, 1970), Stebbins (1966,1971), etc., have classified
the reproductive isolating mechanisms into two classes,
namely premating or prezygotic isolating mechanisms and
postmating or postzygotic isolating mechanisms.
Both types of isolating mechanisms differ fundamentally
from each other in the following manner: premating or
prezygotic isolating mechanisms prevent wastage of
gametes (germ cells) and so are highly susceptible to
improvement by natural selection;
postmating or postzygotic isolating mechanisms do not
prevent wastage of gametes and their improvement by
natural selection is indirect (Mayr, 1970).
Both types of isolating mechanisms included many
subtypes, all of which have been listed in Table
A. Premating or prezygotic isolating mechanisms
— Mechanisms that prevent interspecific crosses (i.e.,
fertilization and zygote formation).
1. Habitat isolation : The populations live in the same
regions but occupy different habitats, so that potential
mates do not meet.
2. Seasonal or temporal isolation : The populations exist in
the same regions but are sexually mature at different
times, so that potential mates remain unable to mate.
3. Ethological isolation : The populations are isolated by
different and incompatible behaviour (in animals only)
before mating, so that potential mates meet but do not
mate.
4. Mechanical isolation : Cross fertilization or pollination is
prevented or restricted by differences in structure of
reproductive organs (genitalia in animals, flowers in
plants), so that copulation is attempted but no transfer of
sperm takes place.
B. Postmating or postzygotic isolating
mechanisms — Fertilization takes place, hybrid zygotes are
formed, but these are inviable, or give rise to weak or sterile
hybrids.
1. Gametic mortality : Sperm transfer takes place but egg is not
fertilized.
2. Zygotic mortality: Egg is fertilized but zygote dies.
3. Hybrid inviability or weakness: Zygote produces an F1 hybrid
of reduced viability.
4. Developmental hybrid sterility: Hybrids are sterile because
gonads develop abnormally, or meiosis breaks down before it is
completed.
5. Segregational hybrid sterility: Hybrids are sterile because of
abnormal segregation to the gametes of whole chromosomes,
chromosome segments, or combination of genes.
6. F2 breakdown: F1 hybrids are normal, vigorous and fertile, but
F2 contains many weak or sterile individuals.