Question

An earthquake causes a huge canyon to form, permanently dividing a population of wild donkeys. On the windward side of the canyon, dry conditions develop and grasses grow. On the leeward side of the canyon, rainfall is frequent and a forest grows. What is LEAST likely to happen over the course of 100,000 years?

Answer 1

The two populations of donkeys will remain physically identical in both areas.

Answer 2

A geographic modification distinguishes the members of a population into more than one group. Such modifications could comprise the generation of a new waterway or a new mountain range, or the creation of new canyons. The phenomenon results in allopatric speciation.

Due to this, mutations of different genes takes place and leads to the formation of distinct populations with time. These changes result in the development of distinct features between the two populations. As a consequence, the populations turn so different from each other that the individuals of these populations lose the tendency to interbreed.

Thus, in the given case the population of wild donkeys will become so much different from each other that they lose the tendency to remain physically same with time in both the windward side and the leeward side.