What external environmental fluctuation is strongly implicated in the speciation of Fairy Wrasses?
Answer
Dramatic environmental fluctuation caused by Pleistocene ice ages
A significant external factor identified as driving the speciation and subsequent color divergence within the Fairy Wrasse lineage is the severe environmental instability associated with the Pleistocene ice ages. During these glacial periods, global sea levels often plummeted drastically, sometimes by more than 100 meters. This massive drop fundamentally altered marine habitats, specifically exposing or isolating the vast expanses of shallow, interconnected coral reef systems upon which these fish depend. This periodic fragmentation of habitat served as the primary catalyst for reproductive isolation and subsequent species formation.
Related Questions
What are the recognized physical characteristics of wrasses belonging to the family Labridae?What is the approximate maximum length reached by the Queensland Maori Wrasse, *Cheilinus undulatus*?What evolutionary concept defines the history of rapid speciation within the Labridae family?What mechanism explains the rapid evolution of vivid colors in Fairy Wrasses (*Cirrhilabrus*)?What external environmental fluctuation is strongly implicated in the speciation of Fairy Wrasses?What process results from geographically isolating *Cirrhilabrus* populations due to fluctuating sea levels?Which factors are described as more critical architects of wrasse diversity than localized ecological niches for the Fairy Wrasse lineage?What integration is described as essential for accurately describing and conserving wrasse biodiversity?What term describes the difference in appearance between male and female Fairy Wrasses?In which global region is the greatest diversity of the Labridae family concentrated?