What primary mechanism is responsible for creating and maintaining the genetic drift and selection that underlies population differences in *Ocyurus chrysurus*?
Answer
Geographic isolation
The underlying foundation for the evolutionary divergence observed among yellowtail snapper populations is geographic isolation. When physical barriers, such as deep channels or strong ocean currents, effectively separate sub-groups, gene flow between them becomes significantly limited. This isolation allows genetic drift—random changes in gene frequency—and natural selection, driven by local conditions, to act independently on each separated sub-group. Over time, these independent evolutionary pressures result in distinct genetic profiles, confirming that the species is not a single, freely mixing unit.
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