Compare and Contrast Allopatric andSympatric Speciation
Allopatric speciation describes how a species can be created based upon a geographic separation from an original species. This differs from Sympatric speciation since it describes a method for a new species to be created in the same geographic region. Both methods describe how a new species can be formed, however, they completely differ on their method and results. An example below is a species of tree that becomes permanently separated from the original species by a river. The group on one side of the river develops different characteristics than the original and they keep reproducing within their own group and the result is a new species. Under the Sympatric speciation a new group of species is formed with the same region due to changes in the small group that limits their ability to only reproduce within the smaller group. Thus any changes in the smaller group is not shared with the larger group and the smaller group becomes a specific species over time.