Long-Term Studies of Belding's Ground Squirrels Show That Immigrants Move

question 83

Multiple Choice

Long-term studies of Belding's ground squirrels show that immigrants move nearly 2 km from where they are born and become 1-8% of the males and 0.7-6% of the females in other populations. On an evolutionary scale, why is this significant?

• A) These immigrants make up for the deaths of individuals, keeping the other populations' sizes stable.
• B) Young reproductive males tend to stay in their home population and are not driven out by other territorial males.
• C) These immigrants provide a source of genetic diversity for the other populations.
• D) Those individuals that emigrate to these new populations are looking for less crowded conditions with more resources.
• E) Gradually, the populations of ground squirrels will move from a clumped to a uniform population pattern of dispersion.

---

Definitions:

Colonial World

A term referring to the period and system in which powerful countries established dominance and control over territories and peoples across the world, often exploiting them.

Contemporary Conceptions

Modern understanding or interpretations of concepts and theories relevant to a specific field or study.

Race

Race is a social construct that categorizes humans based on physical characteristics, ancestry, historical social positions, and identities, often linked with power relations and social hierarchies.

Ethnicity

A category of identity based on common cultural characteristics such as language, religion, customs, and heritage.