Question

the several hundred species of fruit flies of the hawaiian islands are genetically different from each other, yet can all trace their evolutionary ancestry to a fruit fly population in asia. this pattern is likely a result of:

Answer 1

The genetic diversity among Hawaiian fruit flies is likely a result of sympatric speciation, where new species arise from a single ancestral species within the same geographic region due to factors such as natural selection for different ecological niches and reproductive isolation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The pattern of genetic diversity observed in the hundreds of species of fruit flies in the Hawaiian Islands can be explained by the process of speciation. These fruit flies originated from a single population in Asia and subsequently diversified through mechanisms such as sympatric speciation, where new species evolve from a single ancestral species while inhabiting the same geographic region. This could happen through a variety of processes, such as natural selection for different ecological niches, host-specific behaviors, and different mating times, which could lead to reproductive isolation even within the same area. For instance, the Hawthorn fly population began laying eggs on apple trees after these trees were introduced to the U.S., eventually leading to reproductive isolation and the emergence of two distinct populations that may be on the path to becoming separate species due to differences in breeding seasons aligned with the fruiting times of their respective host plants.