The smaller size observed in the Channel Islands species, *Arctodus angustus*, is a classic example of what evolutionary process?
Answer
Insular dwarfism
The smaller island form represents insular dwarfism, a process where limited resources and lack of large predators cause large mammals to shrink in size over millennia.
Related Questions
What is the provisional name given to the smaller, island-dwelling short-faced bear species identified around 2020?Which famous geological site in Los Angeles yielded significant remains of the mainland Giant Short-Faced Bear (*A. simus*)?Approximately when did the mainland Giant Short-Faced Bear (*A. simus*) vanish from the North American record?How is the evolutionary path of *Arctodus* generally described in relation to living bear species?What was the estimated maximum weight male *Arctodus simus* could reach?The smaller size observed in the Channel Islands species, *Arctodus angustus*, is a classic example of what evolutionary process?What does the robust build and implied crushing power of *A. simus* suggest regarding its feeding strategy?What geographic contrast exists between the primary habitats of *Arctodus simus* and *Arctodus angustus*?How does the extinction timing of the island species, *Arctodus angustus*, compare to the mainland *A. simus*?What feature suggested *A. simus* was built for confrontation?