[Campbell Biology P.562] The researchers define the reproductive isolation value for two pop... | Practice Question

The researchers define the reproductive isolation value for two populations as the sum of the proportion of successful matings of each type within populations AA + BB minus the sum of the proportion of successful matings of each type between populations AB + BA . Based on this formula, if salamanders are equally successful in mating with members of their own population AND members of another population, what would be the reproductive isolation index?

  • A: 0
  • B: 1
  • C: 2
  • D: It cannot be determined without specific success rates.

Explanation

The reproductive isolation index is AA + BB - AB + BA . If salamanders are equally successful in mating with members of their own population and members of another population, then the proportion of successful matings within populations AA + BB would be equal to the proportion of successful matings between populations AB + BA . For example, if all four types of matings have 100% success proportion = 1 , then 1+1 - 1+1 = 0. Or, if all four types have 50% success proportion = 0.5 , then 0.5+0.5 - 0.5+0.5 = 0. Thus, the index would be 0, indicating no isolation.