Geographic isolation
The geographical isolation ( biological technical term separation ) describes in the evolution theory the spatial separation of populations by geographical factors (mountains, deserts, ice ages, separation of continents etc.) or the drifting of a part of the population into isolates .
The geographical separation - e.g. B. through mountain formation or rift breaks - can lead to the development of two (or more) species from one species: as a rule, in the separate habitats there are (albeit slightly) different environmental conditions and thus changed selection factors affect the populations. For example, the supply of types of food can differ so that the populations develop different adaptations to the food supply. In any case, the separated populations develop independently of one another. The habitats are also subject to changes in the long term.
Speciation due to separation is called allopatric speciation .
The term “isolation” should only be used in evolutionary biology when referring to isolation mechanisms, that is, to factors that prevent the genetic mixing of two populations.