What is sympatric speciation?

Sympatric speciation refers to the process of speciation that occurs when new species arise from a single ancestral species while both groups inhabit the same geographic area. This type of speciation does not rely on physical barriers, such as mountains or rivers, to separate populations. Instead, it often occurs due to other mechanisms that promote reproductive isolation, such as behavioral differences, habitat preferences, or temporal isolation (where mating occurs at different times).

In the context of the other choices, speciation that occurs in geographically isolated populations usually describes allopatric speciation, not sympatric. Similarly, speciation through physical barriers also aligns with the concept of allopatric speciation. Speciation driven by environmental changes can influence the process of speciation but does not specifically define sympatric speciation, as it doesn’t necessarily involve the geographic proximity of the populations involved. Thus, the definition aligns precisely with what sympatric speciation entails.