Biology

Case Study: Trouble in Paradise Assignment

The Rodent Journal

Introduction

Various experiments and measurements were performed in order to compare the two types of rodents. The following are the data collected through multiple observations over a span of two years. We captured 100 rats of each rodent population, and we found the average weight, length, hind limb, and forelimb measurements. In addition, we conducted experiments in regards to their top speed, average height that they could leap, gestation time, and average time spent in courtship display.

Data

St. Kitts Rodent

• Weight = 83g

• Length = 21.8cm

• Hind limb = 7.8cm

• Forelimb = 4.2cm

• Speed = 2.2m/s

• Average leap height = 1.4m

• Average gestation time = 29.3 days

• Average time spent in courtship display = 12.6 seconds

Nevis Rodent

• Weight = 86g

• Length = 23.3cm

• Hind limb = 4.2cm

• Forelimb = 3.9cm

• Speed = 0.8m/s

• Average leap height = 0.4m

• Average gestation time = 42.7 days

• Average time spent in courtship display = 21.3 seconds

Conclusion

In the end, we concluded that two different species of rodent evolved over an elongated time period. The rodent species of the St. Kitts population has been classified as Scirius kittis while the species found on Nevis has been classified as Scirius nevile. Three main factors contributing to the separation of two distinct species of these rodents are the bottleneck effect, allopatric speciation, and behavioral isolation. These rodents both started off as one common species classified under the common tree squirrel genus.

A bottleneck effect occurs when a population undergoes a dramatic decrease in size. This is often attributed to a natural disaster. Based on the case study, the species on St Kitts most likely underwent a catastrophe. Since St Kitts is an island, this is very possible. Separation of the two islands is possible which contributed to...