Answer:
geographic isolation
Step-by-step explanation:
According to fossil evidence, a number of fish from a long-gone lake in Death Valley, California split off to become numerous distinct species. These new species all resided in various ponds. Geographic isolation is probably to blame for this diversification. When a community is physically divided from another by a geographical barrier, such as a mountain range or a body of water, geographic isolation has occurred. The two populations cannot exchange genetic material because of this isolation, which results in genetic diversity and eventually the emergence of new species. In this instance, the several ponds in Death Valley have acted as physical barriers to isolate the fish population, which has resulted in the emergence of new species.