In this question you are given TWO separate scenarios. Please read both carefully.
Scenario 1:
In northern Alberta there is a population of approximately 1000 caribou in the Birch Bark Provincial Park*. Fifty (50) of the caribou from Birch Bark Provincial Park permanently move from this provincial park into a new territory (Jumping Mouse Provincial Park) that has no caribou, but does have a population of mice. Caribou do not eat mice; mice do not eat caribou. These organisms (mice and caribou) do not compete for food. (4 points)
Scenario 2:
In British Columbia, there is another population of approximately 1000 caribou in Moonshine Hills Provincial Park. Three hundred (300) of the Moonshine Hills Provincial Park caribou move into Willow Springs, which is already home to a small population (approximately 300) of the same species of caribou. The Moonshine Hills caribou join the Willow Springs herd and interbreed with them. (4 points)
For each of the scenarios above:
i. Identify the evolutionary process occurring. Be as specific as possible. Aim for 2 sentences at the most!
ii. Explain what happens to the genetic variation in both the original population (i.e., Birch Bark or Moonshine Hills Provincial Park populations) and the new population new population (i.e., in Jumping Mouse Provincial Park or Willow Springs) in each scenario as a consequence of this move and why
each scenario as a consequence of this move and why. Aim for 4 sentences (one sentence per population).
*These are not real parks. They are purely figments of our imagination, but you should treat them as if they were real.
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