| sympatric | <ecology, zoology> Refers to different species or populations of the same species that livein the same geographic area. Compare: allopatric. (19 Jan 1998) |
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| sympatric speciation | <biology, ecology, zoology> The evolutionary process of a single population of a species splitting into two populations which gradually evolve into two different species (as a result of genetic mutation and variation) while both diverging populations still occupy the same geographic area. (19 Jan 1998) |