URL: http://www.designntrend.com/articles/30592/20141213/global-warming-impact-evolution-artic-animals.htm
Published: December 13, 2014
Author: Randall Mayes
As a result of the drastic temperature increase in the Arctic, many species are migrating into new habitats where similar species live, and these species are interbreeding. One example of this is grizzly bears moving to the polar bear's habitat. Although scientist aren't able to know exactly how many crosses between a polar bear and a grizzly bear there are, over the past couple years they have found several crosses. This new hybrid species could dominate the polar bear and grizzly bear species to the point where these original species become extinct.
This article relates to our unit of evolution that we are studying right now. We are learning about how many similar species evolved from one common ancestor long ago, and by the process of adaptation, the ancestor became many species, each one modified for their specific niche. This article shows evolution happening today, specifically a disruption that may change the future species living in the Arctic.
How come hybridizing doesn't occur constantly between similar species like red squirrels and gray squirrels, causing the lines of distinction to vanish?
ReplyDeleteAs we learned in class, there are many reasons why hybridization doesn't occur. One reason is their niches are different. Another is their mating calls are different, so the different species aren't attracted to one another.
DeleteHow do you think the continuous temperature increases will affect this issue of hybridization?
ReplyDeleteI think the raising temperature will cause this hybridization, which at this point is just getting started, to increase to the point where the original species,polar bears and grizzly bears, will decrease in numbers because their habitats will continue to cross over the others.
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