Differences of bird songs between two closely related species of meadowlarks represent a mechanism for

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The question asks about what differences in bird songs between two closely related meadowlark species illustrate as a mechanism.
Option 1: 'speciation by polyploidy.' Polyploidy is a sudden chromosome number change more common in plants and rare in birds; it is not tied to differences in song patterns, so this is an unlikely mechanism here.
Option 2: 'geographic isolation.' Geographic isolation refers to physical separation between populations. While it can contribute to speciation, differences in birdsong point to behavioral barriers within the same area rather than a geographic barrier, making this option less fitting for this scenario.
Option 3: 'postzygotic isolation.' Postzygotic isolation involves reduced fitness of hybrids after mating has occurred (e.g., sterile or nonviable offspring). Song differences operate before mating happens, so they are not describing postzygotic barriers.
Option 4: 'prezygotic isolation.' Differences in song can prevent interbreeding by influencing mate choice before fertilization, which is a classic example of prezygotic isolation. Against a backdrop of closely related species, such behavioral cues are a primary mechanism to maintain species boundaries.

BIOL 1009 (001-006/050-055) Final Exam

Differences of bird songs between two closely related species of meadowlarks represent a mechanism for

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