The first people to explore the Galapagos Islands noticed that the finches there are different species than the finches living on the nearby mainland.

Question

Which ,begin emphasis,most,end emphasis, likely caused this example of speciation?

Answer options with 4 options
A.
Unhealthy conditions on the islands caused severe mutations.

B.
The birds had different mating seasons and could not interbreed.

C.
Adaptation stopped on the mainland but continued on the islands.

D.
The water between the mainland and islands prohibited interbreeding.

Answer 1

The option that most likely caused this example of speciation is:

D. The water between the mainland and islands prohibited interbreeding.

This geographic isolation likely led to different evolutionary paths for the finch populations on the islands compared to those on the mainland, resulting in distinct species.