What geographic condition defines allopatric speciation as opposed to sympatric speciation?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Speciation driven by geographical isolation of populations by physical barriers like mountains or rivers
Allopatric speciation occurs when a physical geographic barrier (e.g., river formation, mountain uplift, continental drift) divides a single ancestral population into geographically isolated subpopulations, preventing gene flow and allowing divergent evolution through mutation, genetic drift, and natural selection. Sympatric speciation occurs without geographic isolation.
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