What is an example of allopatric speciation?

Allopatric speciation occurs when populations of a species are geographically isolated from one another, leading to the evolution of distinct species over time due to the lack of gene flow. The example of Darwin's finches illustrates this concept perfectly. These finches, which evolved into different species on the Galápagos Islands, were separated by distances that prevented them from interbreeding. Over time, environmental pressures and adaptive radiation resulted in the divergence of these birds into various forms that adapted to different ecological niches on each island.

In contrast, the other options describe different mechanisms or situations that do not exemplify allopatric speciation. For instance, the emergence of new species within the same geographic area refers to sympatric speciation, where new species evolve from a single ancestral species while inhabiting the same region, often due to factors like polyploidy or behavioral changes. The adaptation of species to identical environments in different regions relates to convergent evolution rather than allopatric speciation, as it emphasizes similar adaptations in unrelated species. Lastly, hybridization between closely related species highlights interbreeding rather than separation, which could lead to outcomes such as hybrid speciation or reinforcement but does not illustrate the geographical isolation central to allopatric speciation. Thus