Environmental factors are very important when it comes to the creation of new species. Here are some easy ways to understand how they help in forming new types of living things:

1. Geographic Isolation

• Sometimes, populations of animals or plants can get split up by things like mountains or rivers.
• This can cause them to become different species over time.
• A famous example is the Galápagos finches, which changed into various species because they were separated on different islands.
• It's believed that about 80% of new species form because of geographic isolation.

2. Natural Selection

• Different environments can affect how well a species survives.
• For example, the peppered moth changed its color because of pollution during the Industrial Revolution. This shows how natural selection works.
• When living in places with different temperatures, species may adapt over time, which can lead to new species forming.

3. Adaptive Radiation

• When a species moves into a new environment, it can quickly change and become different.
• A great example is the Hawaiian honeycreepers, which evolved from a single ancestor into more than 50 different species.
• This process helps them fill various roles in their ecosystem, leading to significant differences in their genetics.

4. Genetic Drift

• Sometimes, random events can make certain traits more common in a population.
• For instance, if a natural disaster happens, it might wipe out specific individuals with certain traits, changing the genetic makeup of the population and helping create new species.
• Genetic drift has a bigger effect on smaller populations. Losing just one type of gene can make a big difference.

Each of these ideas shows how changes in the environment can lead to the creation of new species. They also illustrate important concepts in evolution.