Consider two scenarios in which an ancestral population occupies a large, ecolog
ID: 86261 • Letter: C
Question
Consider two scenarios in which an ancestral population occupies a large, ecologically homogenous area. In each scenario, the ancestral population becomes divided into two isolated populations. In the first case, the ancestral population becomes divided into two equal portions by a barrier that prevents movement between them. In the second case, a freak storm allows a small number of individuals to colonize an island that is distant from the ancestral population. The habitat on the island is slightly that used by the ancestral population. Again, you can assume that further movements between the mainland and the island are not possible. Compare and contrast the evolutionary consequences of the two scenarios.Explanation / Answer
Case 1:
The ancestral population gets divided into two separate populations and is further separated by a barrier that does not allow any kinds of movements between the two. The type of land is homogeneous.
In such a case, both the populations will develop independently, in a geographic speciation manner and since the conditions on both these lands and their habitats are exactly alike, they will continue to evolve in a much similar fashion, without much variations between the two populations.
Case 2 :
In the second case, the ancestral population gets divided into two separate populations and is further separated by a barrier that does not allow any kinds of movements between the two. The type of land is heterogenous, I.e. The conditions of living on both the lands are different . In order to survive on the new land, these species have to evolve such that they cannot continue to grow, in other words, survival of the fittest. In this, the newly habited population will adapt such that they can survive healthily in the new conditions.
Thus, due to adaptive radiations, there will be evolution of a newer species on the new land. Now, since there is no kind of exchange of genes between both the populations, this will result in a complete isolation of the two populations in the form of geographic speciation and ultimately result in a completely new species on the new land.
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