reproductive isolation

American  

noun

1. the conditions, as physiological or behavioral differences or geographical barriers, that prevent potentially interbreeding populations from cross-fertilization.

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Etymology

Origin of reproductive isolation

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

Aside from geographic isolation leading to reproductive isolation, predict two other mechanisms of speciation in a population and how these mechanisms can lead to a scientific definition of a subspecies.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Geography can be a barrier that leads to reproductive isolation.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2018

And in this paper, new genetic evidence shows that after two generations, there was complete reproductive isolation from the native birds.

From BBC • Nov. 23, 2017

Differences in the diets and conditions of fish living at the bottom and in open water have induced distinct body forms, which seem to be evolving reproductive isolation, a stage in forming new species.

From Nature • Oct. 7, 2014

Geographic isolation leads to genetic isolation, and to eventual reproductive isolation.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee