(1) Pre-zygotic or pre-mating isolating mechanisms do not allow individuals to mate with each other at all.

(2) By various mechanisms the two groups remain isolated. These mechanisms are of following types: 

(i) Habitat isolation : Habitat isolation is the phenomenon in which members of a population living in the same region occupy different habitats. Hence the potential mates do not interbreed among themselves.

(ii) Seasonal isolation : In seasonal isolation, members of a population share the same region but attaining sexual maturity at the different times of the year. They thus remain isolated reproductively preventing interbreeding among themselves. 

(iii) Ethological isolation : Ethological isolation is seen when members of two populations have different mating behaviours. This prevents interbreeding.

(iv) Mechanical isolation : Mechanical isolation is seen when the members of two populations have differences in the structure of reproductive organs. Due to such differences interbreeding is not possible.