What is temporal isolation?

Temporal isolation refers to a mechanism that prevents species from interbreeding due to differences in the timing of their reproductive cycles. In this context, species may have different mating seasons, which means they are not sexually active at the same time. This ensures that even if they occupy the same geographical area, they do not come into contact with one another during their breeding periods. As a result, temporal isolation contributes to the process of speciation, where distinct species evolve due to reproductive barriers.

Understanding this concept is critical in the study of evolutionary biology and ecology, as it illustrates how species can adapt to their environments and evolve independently while sharing the same habitat.