Wendy writes:
>Hi David. Reading your post and the others made me curious about
>something. Why would there be "the greatest evol. incentive for
>developing barriers to reproduction" among non-specifics that are
>closely related (that may be able to produce viable offspring)?
>It just wasn't obvious to me, and I'm curious
to know why. [...]
Two possibilities: Differentiation (niche specialization) and
reduction of competition.
If two groups have developed specializations for different niches
and blending of traits through cross-group matings processes
produces offspring less suited for either niche (compared to the
"unmixed" individuals already occupying the niches), then it
could carry a price for those individuals which cannot
differentiate between the groups.
Avoidance of competition might also split groups away from
the "middle". (Master of one skill vs. jack-of-all-trades
scenarios).
Regards,
Tim Ikeda
tikeda@sprintmail.hormel.com (despam address before use)
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