What environmental factor is cited as a significant driver for diversification and speciation within the *Bothrops* complex of the Yarara group?
The historical fragmentation and instability of environments, particularly changes within the Brazilian Atlantic Forest system.
The diversification observed across the *Bothrops* complex, leading to the distinct species within the Yarara group, is strongly linked to historical geographic events that altered habitat availability. The text emphasizes that the fragmentation of environments, especially changes affecting the structure and distribution of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, acted as a primary catalyst for this diversification. Such fragmentation leads to environmental barriers, which in turn promotes reproductive isolation between populations. This isolation allows natural selection to refine species-specific traits—like specialized camouflage or varied habitat tolerances—along separate evolutionary tracks, resulting in the distinct species observed today.
