What is the overall impact of reproductive barriers on new species formation?

Reproductive barriers play a crucial role in the process of speciation, which is the formation of new and distinct species. These barriers may be prezygotic, meaning they prevent mating or fertilization between different species, or postzygotic, which occur after fertilization, leading to reduced viability or fertility of hybrid offspring. By limiting gene flow between populations, these barriers encourage the divergence of traits that can lead to the development of distinct species over time.

For example, if two populations of a species develop different mating behaviors or reproductive timings, they will be less likely to interbreed. This reproductive isolation allows each population to adapt to its own environment, accumulate genetic differences, and eventually evolve into separate species. Thus, reproductive barriers ultimately facilitate the creation of new species by fostering isolation and divergence.