The Grand Canyon was carved out by the Colorado River several million years ago. This caused the separation of members of one sq
uirrel species. The Abert’s Squirrel lives on the southern side of the canyon and in other parts of the United States. A second species, the Kaibab Squirrel, has been found around the northern rim of the canyon and nowhere else in the country. According to the process of natural selection, we know that there must have been some genetic variation among the existing squirrel population, but how did that lead to the development of a second species?
There was probably some sort of bring-over from a different area where the new squirrels lived before. Maybe the squirrels had to migrate. There are a lot of possibilities, but most likely some sort of reproduction adaptation.
There were both genetic variations and environmental variations. In each location, the genetic variations helped certain squirrels survive to reproduce. Those unique and differing traits were passed on. When the squirrels were separated, there was genetic variation within the population. In each group, some had traits that allowed them to survive and reproduce in their specific environment. Over time, each group evolved unique traits for their home location until one species evolved into two. (From usatestprep)
