What geographic feature acted as a barrier separating the Cross River Gorillas from the Lowland cousins?
Answer
The Cross River system and associated terrain
The recent evolutionary separation observed between the Cross River Gorilla population and the Western Lowland Gorilla population is attributed directly to physical isolation imposed by the environment. Specifically, the Cross River system, along with the rugged terrain surrounding it, served as a significant barrier. This geographical obstruction restricted dispersal and prevented gene flow between the two populations, allowing them to accumulate distinct genetic characteristics over the last several tens of thousands of years.
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