Behavioral isolation

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As behavioral isolation ( Engl. : Behavioral isolation , rarely also: ethological isolation ) or ethological isolation is in the evolutionary research the lack of sexual attraction between males and females of neighboring populations called, if the behavior can be attributed to the animals. A mating is prevented therefore by different, not coordinated behavior.

Behavioral isolation is an important isolation mechanism (a reproductive barrier ) which, as a result of evolutionarily changed mating signals, can lead to the emergence of new species in the long term ( sympatric speciation ). Theodosius Dobzhansky even described behavioral isolation as the most important isolation mechanism.

The cause of the failure to mate can be congenital changes in acoustic, visual, chemical, tactile and morphological properties that play a role in the course of courtship .

See also

Individual evidence

  1. Theodosius Dobzhansky in Chapter 5, p. 173 of: Dobzhansky, Th., FJ Ayala, GL Stebbins & JW Valentine: Evolution. 1977, WH Freeman, San Francisco