Sympatric speciation

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Sympatric speciation, unlike allopatric speciation, does not require large-scale geographic distance to reduce gene flow between parts of a population. Merely exploiting a new niche may automatically reduce gene flow with individuals exploiting the other niche. This may occasionally happen when, for example, herbivorous insects try out a new host plant. The question of whether speciation can occur in sympatry has been among the most contentious in evolutionary biology. In recent years a growing number of studies have provided empirical evidence that it has occurred [1][2]

References

  1. Barluenga, M et al Sympatric speciation in Nicaraguan crater lake cichlid Nature439:719
  2. Savolainen, V. et al. Sympatric speciation in palms on an oceanic island Nature441, 210 - 2130
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