What process explains the woolly mammoth's evolutionary story driven by global climate shifts?
Answer
Allopatric speciation and subsequent adaptation
The entire evolutionary narrative of the woolly mammoth is framed as a prime example of allopatric speciation followed by intense adaptation. Allopatric speciation occurs when a population is divided by a physical barrier, often geographical or climatic, leading to divergence. In this case, global climate shifts—the expansion into colder northern latitudes—drove geographic isolation and successive refinements in traits, such as insulation and body proportions, that were necessary for survival in those newly occupied, extreme environments.
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Evolution of the woolly mammoth - BBC science - YouTube
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