What intense selective pressure defines the condition known as sympatry in warblers?
Answer
Pressure to quickly and accurately identify a mate of the correct species to avoid costly hybridization.
Sympatry describes the condition where different species inhabit the same geographical area. In this setting, the selective pressures intensify dramatically, primarily revolving around reproductive isolation. Individuals must rapidly and correctly identify conspecific mates to prevent hybridization, which often results in unfit offspring. Therefore, selection strongly favors traits, such as distinct song or plumage differences, that sharpen species distinctions in these overlapping regions, acting as a major catalyst for rapid evolutionary change locally. This necessity for quick identification is the core driver in sympatric settings.
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