What process is indicated as driving the evolutionary separation between the two turkey species?
Answer
Allopatric speciation
The vast geographical separation between the Ocellated Turkey in Central American tropics and the Wild Turkey in North America has resulted in distinct evolutionary paths. This divergence, driven by continental barriers and vastly different climate zones, is specifically identified as a classic case of allopatric speciation. Millions of years of independent adaptation under selective pressures—such as differing light conditions, predators, and food sources within the tropical canopy versus temperate forests—led to the evolution of the unique, ornate *M. ocellata*.
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