Question

page 27 of 50
question 27 (mandatory) (2 points)
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two species of gelsemium spp., a flowering vine plant, share the same habitat and have similar insect pollinators. however, pollination occurs for gelsemium sempervirens from mid-january to late march, and for gelsemium rankinii from late march to mid-april. this represents
mechanical isolation.
gametic isolation.
temporal isolation.
ecological isolation.
a process analogous to behavioral isolation in animals.

Explanation:

Temporal isolation is a prezygotic barrier where species reproduce at different times (seasons, times of day, etc.). Here, the two Gelsemium species have non-overlapping pollination/flowering periods, which fits this definition. Mechanical isolation involves physical incompatibility of reproductive structures, gametic isolation involves gametes failing to fuse, ecological isolation involves different habitats (not the same habitat here), and behavioral isolation in animals involves mating signals/rituals, which is not analogous here.

Answer:

temporal isolation.