what is reproductive isolation?

Reproductive isolation is a set of mechanisms, behaviors, and physiological processes that prevent individuals from different populations or species from mating, producing offspring, or ensuring that any offspring produced are sterile. It acts as a barrier to gene flow between populations, contributing to the formation of genetically distinct species. Reproductive isolation can occur through prezygotic barriers (before fertilization, such as differences in mating seasons or behaviors) or postzygotic barriers (after fertilization, such as hybrid inviability or sterility).