Trouble in Paradise: a Case of Speciation

Entry Journal for Post Experimentation Observations

Dr. Trivette, Michaela

March 16, 2015

Attempt at breeding the Treehugger (Sciurus Avian) and the Bear Squirrel (Sciurus Terra)

Nevis Island and St. Kitts Island of the West Indies

Operation Squirrel Brain

Journal Log

It is possible that these two species were the same at one time. However due to my recent experiments this has proven to be incorrect. A possible explanation to my results could be that the genetic drift of the species in the past cause less differentiation between two distinct versions of the same species and then some allopatric speciation occurred which separated the two islands and thus the two populations formed. I don’t know exactly what kind of geographic interference occurred. We surveyed the land and either a large earthquake split the two islands or the ocean waters were raised to cover a land bridge between the two. However before the split the species’ genes were split into only two genetic variations by genetic drift as it reduced different alleles in the Treehugger and the Bear Squirrel.

Journal Log

It appears that the population size on the island of St. Kitts could be the result of the bottleneck effect. According to annual weather analysis the island is very susceptible to fires during its dry season as the dry air, winds, and heat create a spark. The cleared fertile areas of St. Kitts also points to this. Leaving behind only a small number of individuals to create the founder effect and make their very own gene pool which could eventually lead to a differentiation in species. These fires could also point to the reason why the Treehugger has a leaner, stealthier body structure and faster speed to avoid the fires.

Journal Log

There appears to be no gene flow in between the two islands. There doesn’t seem to be any attempts at mixing the populations until Squirrel Brain. I am saying this because should there have been previous attempts at creating a hybrid...