Final answer:
The statement refers to the study of Evolution. Geographic separation between populations can lead to differences in the phenotypic variation between those populations, and this can increase as the physical distance between populations increases. This is a key concept studied in the field of evolutionary biology.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement refers to the study of Evolution. Geographic separation between populations can lead to differences in the phenotypic variation between those populations, and this can increase as the physical distance between populations increases. These differences in genetic makeup and phenotypic variation over time can result in the formation of new species, a process known as speciation. This is a key concept studied in the field of evolutionary biology.
The statement describes genetic differences among populations of a salmon species, and the observation that these differences increase with physical distance is indicative of patterns of genetic variation over geographic space. This is a key aspect of the study of evolution, particularly at the population level, where changes in gene frequencies occur over time and space. The genetic variation among populations is a result of various evolutionary processes such as genetic drift, gene flow, and natural selection.