Question

Step 4: (Write a CER or R.A.C.E.S) 3-5 Sentences.Look at the salamander information above and think about how these subspecies might have come from the same ancestor (from the North). As salamanders moved south around the Central Valley, their environments changed. Explain step by step how these subspecies could have developed over time as they spread into different areas and eventually reached the southern region. (4 points)

Answer 1

Claim: The different subspecies of salamanders likely evolved from a common ancestor due to environmental changes as they migrated southward into varied habitats.

Evidence: As the salamanders moved into the Central Valley, they encountered distinct climates, food sources, and predators that differed from their northern ancestral environment. For instance, a shift from moist, cool conditions to warmer, drier areas would have necessitated adaptations for water retention and temperature regulation.

Reasoning: Over time, natural selection would favor individuals with traits better suited to their new environments, leading to gradual changes in physical characteristics and behaviors. As these adaptations accumulated, the salamanders that settled in the southern region became increasingly different from their northern ancestors, resulting in the emergence of various subspecies. Thus, the process of geographical migration combined with environmental pressures facilitated the evolutionary divergence of these salamander populations.