Question

which of the following describes what will most likely happen to a population of antelope whose range is fragmented by an earthquake that divides a peninsula, resulting in two isolated antelope populations? choose 1 answer: a the antelope populations will continue to interbreed as they adapt to their new environmental conditions. b two separate species of antelope will emerge as the isolated populations adapt to differences in their environments. c the antelope populations on the peninsula will go extinct because of the destructive change to their environment.

Explanation:

• Option A: If the populations are isolated (due to the earthquake fragmenting the range), they can't interbreed freely. So A is incorrect.
• Option B: When a population is geographically isolated (allopatric speciation), over time, genetic differences accumulate as they adapt to different environments, potentially leading to the formation of new species. This matches the scenario of two isolated antelope populations.
• Option C: There's no indication that the environment is so destructive that extinction is inevitable. The question is about what is most likely to happen with isolation, not immediate extinction.

Answer:

B. Two separate species of antelope will emerge as the isolated populations adapt to differences in their environments.