What does peripatric speciation involve?

Peripatric speciation involves a small, isolated population that diverges from a larger population. This process often occurs when a subgroup of a species becomes geographically separated from the main population, whether due to factors like a change in habitat or the emergence of a physical barrier. In this isolated setting, the small population may experience different selective pressures, mutations, and genetic drift, leading to adaptations and speciation over time.

This mode of speciation highlights the significant influence that geographical separation can have on the evolutionary trajectory of a population, particularly when the initial group is small. The limited genetic diversity and distinct environmental pressures can result in rapid changes and the eventual formation of a new species. Thus, the essence of peripatric speciation lies in the contrast between the smaller subpopulation's isolation and the larger population from which it originated, ultimately leading to divergent evolutionary paths.