Geographic speciation in wall lizards

Timeline

1Flood 2River 3Disaster

Shared habitat

Green rocky lizard habitat viewed from the side

Composition of the lizard population

0 lizards

Isometric green lizard habitat with a narrow dry riverbed and a naturally embedded limestone mountain range

Shared habitat

Composition of the lizard population

0 lizards

00:00

Model events

Ready to start

☀ Cycle 0 · Day

0 mLizards A ·
Day 0 mLizards A ·
Night 0 mLizards B ·
Day 0 mLizards B ·
Night

The lizards can still cross the dry riverbed.

Geographic speciation in wall lizards

Populations of a species consist of individuals that differ in heritable traits. In wall lizards, these differences include body colouration. As long as animals can move and reproduce between different parts of a habitat, genetic material is exchanged between those areas. This exchange is known as gene flow.

The simulation shows a lizard population in an initially connected habitat. Spatial separation, reproduction, mutation, predators and changing environmental conditions interact in the model. The habitat views and charts continuously show what happens in both areas.

Task: Observe the complete model run and compare how the two areas develop. Record notable changes in the habitat views and charts. Then explain your observations using the terms gene flow, isolation, mutation and selection.

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Geographic speciation in wall lizards

Cycle 1

Flash flood divides the habitat

Heavy rain fills the riverbed. The lizards move to opposite banks; after this, exchange between the two sides is no longer possible.

Cycle 3

How does subhabitat B change?

Choose an environmental disturbance. The simulation remains paused until you make a decision.

Cycle 8

Simulation complete

The subpopulations have developed under different conditions.