Question

Will geographic isolation be a major factor in the speciation of self-pollinating plant species? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Self-pollinating plants are plants that are able to reproduce by themselves. This means that both of the gametes, the male and female gametes, required for reproduction are present on one flower.

Complete answer:
Self-pollinating plants, as per their name, are plants that pollinate themselves. This means that only one individual is involved in the reproduction process. On the other hand, cross-pollination is when the pollen grains from one plant pollinate another plant. When we talk about speciation it refers to a plant that develops variations over time and splits into different species. These variations are differences in certain features of the plant like the number of petals on the flowers.
Geographic isolation is when certain species of plants are kept in isolation. However, self-pollinating plants do not need other plants in order to reproduce. Instead, the pollen grain or the male gamete of the plant falls on the pistil of the flower which then leads to the ovary. Thus the location of the anther, the pollen grains is on the same plant as the ovary. Thus the isolation of the plant from other plants does not matter for speciation.
Plants that reproduce asexually do not generally have variation because of the fact that there is no genetic variation. Therefore the answer to the question is no.

Note:
Self-pollinating plants are a type of plant that pollinate themselves. This means that self-pollinating reproduction includes one individual and therefore there is not much variation. Variation is the primary reason for speciation therefore geographic isolation is not a major issue.