if two species of toad can be successfully crossed in the laboratory producing healthy hybrids but there are no hybrids in the wild even though both species have the same geographical distribution, then the underlying mechanism of speciation is because both species have been temporally isolated (Option C).
Geographic reproductive isolation is a type of speciation between two or more species due the emergence of a geographic barrier that constraints the gene flow between populations.
Therefore, with this data, we can see that geographic reproductive isolation is due to divergence in populations that lead to restrictions in the gene flow.
Complete question:
Two species of toad, Bufo americanus and Bufo fowleri, can be successfully crossed in the laboratory producing healthy, fertile hybrids. However, after careful sampling you observe no hybrids in the wild even though both species have the same geographical distribution. Next, you observe that B. americanus mates in early summer and B. fowleri in late summer. What would be your hypothesis for the underlying mechanism of speciation of B. americanus and B. fowleri?
a. Both species have been sexually isolated
b. Both species have been gametic isolated
c. Both species have been temporally isolated
d. Hybridization of these species leads to offspring with low fitness
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