Parapatry
In biology, parapatry is a form of geographical distribution in which the areas of distribution of members of two populations or species do not overlap, but adjoin one another, so that an isolated exchange of individuals can still take place.
Parapatry represents the opposite of sympatry , in which the areas of distribution overlap, and also to allopatry , in which the areas of distribution are so far separated that the area in between can in principle no longer be overcome by individual individuals.
In addition to faunistics , the term parapatry plays a major role in evolutionary biology , as this form of geographical separation of two populations leads to reproductive isolation . Over longer periods of time, this can lead to the formation of new species, since different selection pressures act on the different populations . This form of speciation is called parapatric speciation and, according to current doctrine, is the rule for the formation of new species.