Which ecological rules summarize the mammoth's adaptation of being bulkier with shorter limbs in cold environments?
Answer
Bergmann's and Allen's rules
The physical characteristics observed in the woolly mammoth—specifically its large body mass and the reduction in the size of its extremities like legs, ears, and tail—are classic illustrations of well-established biological principles regarding adaptation to climate. The text explicitly states that this overall trend of being bulkier with shorter appendages in colder-dwelling relatives is a demonstration of Bergmann's rule (related to body size) and Allen's rule (related to appendage length for heat conservation). These rules describe how environmental pressures shape morphology to optimize survival.
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