The Split
Over the time period of changes on planet Arda, moose have developed a few new adaptations. The most apparent adaptation is the change in the moose’s fur. Many moose have began to develop thinner fur to make the warmer climate more comfortable. This is very helpful during the summer, but it provides an issues during the harsh winters. Although the summers have gotten hotter, the winters are just as cold and bitter as they were before the environmental changes. Another notable adaptation ks their change in antlers. Their antlers are just as massive as before, but they have much more rigid edges and longer points. This is because the wolves have become much more aggressive. Without the food sources they got from the tundra, the moose is now a wolf’s main source of food. With the new adapted antlers, moose are now able to defend themselves better. The moose’s next adaptation is very simple, but also very helpful. Moose in Orocarnia have begun to develop stronger and bigger teeth. This allows them to eat the more thick and hard vegetation of the deciduous forest. The moose’s final adaptation is it’s legs. Moose have begun to develop even longer legs to help it run faster. This can help it get away from its predators. Another simple, but still helpful, adaptation.
As seen in the graph below, the adaptation of bigger antlers shows directional selection.
As seen in the graph below, the adaptation of bigger antlers shows directional selection.
Speciation Event:
Over the ten million year period on planet Arda, moose have begun to develop a few adaptations. They have developed longer legs, bigger teeth, sharper antlers, and thinner fur. These adaptation can be helpful and harmful. Most moose have adapted stronger teeth and longer legs, but only a few have developed thinner fur and larger antlers. Moose are soon able to identified as two different species. One with thick fur and big antlers, and one with thinned fur and normal antlers.
Over the ten million year period on planet Arda, moose have begun to develop a few adaptations. They have developed longer legs, bigger teeth, sharper antlers, and thinner fur. These adaptation can be helpful and harmful. Most moose have adapted stronger teeth and longer legs, but only a few have developed thinner fur and larger antlers. Moose are soon able to identified as two different species. One with thick fur and big antlers, and one with thinned fur and normal antlers.
Around five million years into the environment change on planet arda, as seen in the graph, moose have been split into two species. Moose began have adaption that helped with survival and comfort. Some moose had developed large antlers and kept their thick fur, while other moose had thinner fur and kept their normal antlers. The moose became so different that they broke off into two subspecies as you can see in the graph.
The first subspecies, Alces Tinuous, had developed thinner fur and kept its original antlers. These adaptations were suited more around comfort. thinner fur was developed in order to make the warmer climate easier to deal with. They also kept normal antlers because they were lighter. These adaptations had created some problems. smaller antlers made the moose less of a threat to predators, and the thinner fur had caused many of them to die in the harsh winters of the Taiga. As seen in the graph above, this eventually led to the extinction of the species.
The second subspecies, Alces Largus, had developed bigger and more rigid antlers, while keeping its thick fur, These adaptation were more survival based. The thick fur wasn't comfortable during the summer, but helped the moose survive during the winter. The larger antlers were alot to lug around, but they helped the moose fight of predators. This caused this species to survive and thrive after the ten million year period. As you can see the moose below has much thicker fur and bigger antlers than the one above.