Question

How do niches contribute to speciation?

Answer 1

Niches emphasize characteristics carried along migration.

Explanation:

When a subpopulation migrates into a new niche (an environmental or social area sectioned off from the rest of the group), that subpopulation will breed amongst itself, emphasizing characteristics that are carried along. This can contribute to speciation.

For example, see Darwin's finches. Subgroups found different environmental niches to fill, such as cracking nuts, or searching for insects, and characteristics that helped them fill those niches became more pronounced through breeding for desirable traits.