Question

Which of the following is NOT a potential outcome of a hybrid zone?

A. A hybrid species forms, creating three distinct species.
B. Species overlap in space but do not interbreed (prezygotic isolation).
C. The two species fuse into a single species.
D. There is reinforcement of postzygotic barriers.

Answer 1

A hybrid zone can lead to reinforcement, fusion, or stability.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a hybrid zone, there are three potential outcomes: reinforcement, fusion, or stability. Reinforcement occurs when the hybrids are less fit than the parent species, leading to the strengthening of reproductive barriers and the continuation of divergence between the species. Fusion happens when reproductive barriers weaken and the two species merge into a single species. Stability occurs when hybrids are fit and reproductive, and hybridization continues without any significant changes.