What is mechanical isolation?

Mechanical isolation is a type of reproductive isolation that occurs when physical barriers prevent mating or fertilization between two species. These barriers can be structural differences in genitalia, size differences that prevent successful mating, or differences in breeding behaviors that make successful reproduction unlikely.

Mechanical isolation is common in plants, where differences in flower structure or pollen size can prevent successful pollination between species. In animals, mechanical isolation can be seen in species with different mating behaviors or physical adaptations that prevent mating or successful fertilization.

Overall, mechanical isolation plays a key role in maintaining species boundaries and preventing hybridization between different species. It is one of several mechanisms of reproductive isolation that contribute to the evolution and diversity of life on Earth.