Speciation Examples

In the Great Lakes region of North America, gray wolves and coyotes are similar species but do not mate because their breeding periods occur at different times of the year.

• geographic isolation

• behavioral isolation

• temporal isolation

  The females of two species of fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster and Drosophila simulans release slightly different mating hormones called pheromones, which are used to attract male mates.

• geographic isolation

• behavioral isolation

• temporal isolation

A type of isolation in which two populations become separated by a physical barrier such as a canyon, river, lake, preventing the two populations from interbreeding.

• geographic isolation

• behavioral isolation

• temporal isolation

Tradescantia ohiensis, a plant also known as bluejacket and its relative, T. subaspera have similar reproductive mechanisms but do not mate, as one species lives in sun while the other lives in shade

• geographic isolation

• behavioral isolation

• temporal isolation

A type of isolation in which two populations with complex courtship displays or rituals become different enough that they no longer respond to the other’s actions

• geographic isolation

• behavioral isolation

• temporal isolation

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS4-4

The American toad (Anaxyrus americanus) and Fowler's toad (Bufo fowleri) live in the same area.  However, The American toad mates in early summer while Fowler’s mates in late summer.

• geographic isolation

• behavioral isolation

• temporal isolation

The flashing pattern of the firefly (Lampyridae) is used to attract the opposite sex. Female fireflies only flash back and attract male fireflies who first signal them with a species-specific pattern of light

• geographic isolation

• behavioral isolation

• temporal isolation

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS2-8

A type of isolation where two species whose ranges overlap have different periods of sexual activity or breeding seasons.

• geographic isolation

• behavioral isolation

• temporal isolation

Albert’s squirrel and the Kaibab squirrel are distinct subspecies that live on opposite sides of the Grand Canyon.  They were once one species, but now differ significantly, including fur coloring

• geographic isolation

• behavioral isolation

• temporal isolation

Tags

NGSS.HS-LS4-2

NGSS.HS-LS4-4

Of the seven species of cicada, (Cicadae), three follow a 17-year mating cycle, while four follow a 13-year cycle. In regions where their geographic range overlaps, their emergence coincides once in every 221 years.  This last happened in North America in 2015 and will not occur again until the year 2236.

• geographic isolation

• behavioral isolation

• temporal isolation