[Campbell Biology P.567] In the context of hybrid zones, the term 'reinforcement' refers to ... | Practice Question
In the context of hybrid zones, the term 'reinforcement' refers to which of the following biological processes?
A: Natural selection strengthening prezygotic barriers to reproduction, thereby reducing the formation of unfit hybrids.
B: The gradual merging of two distinct species into a single new species through extensive hybridization.
C: The maintenance of distinct species in a hybrid zone despite interbreeding, often due to stable environmental conditions.
D: The process where hybrids are more reproductively successful than their parent species, leading to the creation of new hybrid species.
Explanation
As described in the text, reinforcement is the process where natural selection acts to strengthen prezygotic barriers to reproduction. This occurs particularly when hybrids are less fit than their parent species, thereby reducing the formation of these unfit hybrids.