The process of speciation starts with a single species. It often involves the following steps: (1) two populations become physically separated from one another by a barrier to dispersal and stop exchanging genes; (2) the populations experienceindependent evolutionary changes; (3) changes in one or both populations result in development of reproductive isolating mechanisms that prevent interbreeding; further changes in geography may bring the groups back into contact. When do you officiallyhave two separate species