Wild Soay sheep live in a cold environment on a small Scottish island. The sheep used to be large because they gained extra weight during the summers in order to survive the harsh winters. A recent change in the island’s climate has caused grass to be available for a longer period each year, so survival conditions for the sheep have become less challenging.
Researchers who study these sheep have most likely observed a decrease in the wild Soay’s —
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Researchers who study these sheep have most likely observed a decrease in the wild Soay's:
1. Body weight: Due to the extended availability of grass, the sheep may not need to gain as much weight during the summers to survive the winters. As a result, researchers may have observed a decrease in the average body weight of the wild Soay sheep.
2. Size: With less selective pressure for larger body size, the sheep may have undergone a decrease in overall body size. Researchers may have observed smaller individuals compared to previous generations.
3. Adaptations: The harsh winters were previously a selective pressure that favored individuals with larger body size to survive. With the decreased challenges in survival conditions, researchers may have observed a decrease or loss of certain adaptations that were previously advantageous in the cold environment.
4. Population dynamics: If the decrease in survival challenges led to increased survival rates and reduced mortality, researchers may have observed an increase in the overall population size of wild Soay sheep on the island.
5. Behavioral changes: The extended availability of grass may have led to changes in feeding patterns and behavior of the wild Soay sheep. Researchers may have observed alterations in grazing behavior or changes in social dynamics within the population.
It is important to note that these observations are hypothetical and actual research findings may vary.