reproductive isolation

American  

noun

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

---

Etymology

Origin of reproductive isolation

First recorded in 1980–85

Example Sentences

If an important behavior, such as a mating ritual, evolves differently in two groups, then this type of reproductive isolation is termed behavioral isolation.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2018

Many types of diverging characters may affect the reproductive isolation, the ability to interbreed, of the two populations.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

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

"In other words, how you end up looking is a function of how those around you look. With the primates we studied, this has a purpose: to strengthen reproductive isolation between populations."

From BBC • Jun. 26, 2014

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

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee