In North America, the eastern spotted skunk mates
in late winter, and the western spotted skunk mates
in late summer. Even though their geographic
ranges overlap, the species do not mate with each
other. What most likely prevents these two species
from interbreeding?
A. habitat isolation
B. gametic isolation
C. geographic isolation
D. reproductive isolation

This is a mechanism through which different species or populations do get to mate and produce fertile offspring. This mechanism allows the accumulation of genetic differences and favors speciation.

There are different barriers that inhibit or interrupt the genetic flow between different species.

Reproductive barriers prevent mating between two or more species. There are two types of barriers,

prezygotic ⇒ that avoids fertilization between individuals of different species,

postzygotic ⇒ that impedes the zygote to develope and reach the adult stage.

Pre-copulatory o pre-ziygotic:

• Ecological or by habitat isolation;

• Seasonal or temporal;

• Séxual o ethologic;

• Mechanic;

• Gametes incompatibility.

Postzygotic mechanisms or barriers include

• Hybrid inviability,

• Hybrid sterility,

• Cytoplasmic interactions.

In the exposed example occurs a seasonal difference between the mating period of the eastern spotted skunk and the western spotted skunk.

Probably, if both of them would mate during the same season and in the same area, they could reproduce.

However, since their mating season differs, individuals from each species do not get to cross and hence, produce fertile offspring.

Option D. reproductive isolation is what most likely prevents these two species from interbreeding

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