What Is Geographic Isolation?

Geographic isolation, also called geographical isolation or allopatry, is a phenomenon in evolution. In this process, a small population of particular species separates from its whole population geographically. This separated population gets drifted to a different location with different climatic conditions. Over a time, the species develops characteristic that suit these climatic conditions. Hence, this population appears different from the parent species. Thus, geographic isolation leads to the creation of a new species. This creation of new species is called allopatric speciation.

Sometimes the genetic combination of these species change shows complete change and does not match the original species. If under such conditions these species are brought together they encounter problems in mating. In African elephants, the West African and Savanna elephants are two different species.