Allopatric Speciation

Definition

Allopatric speciation is a mode of speciation that occurs when biological populations become geographically isolated from each other to an extent that prevents or interferes with genetic interchange.

Related terms

Geographic Isolation: This refers to a population of animals, plants, or other organisms that are separated from exchanging genetic material with other organisms of the same species.

Genetic Drift: This is variation in the relative frequency of different genotypes in a small population, owing to the chance disappearance of particular genes as individuals die or do not reproduce.

Founder Effect: The reduced genetic diversity which results when a population is descended from a small number of colonizing ancestors.