Population of Sloths with Guarumo trees

A study from University of Wisconsin in Costa Rica have found a relationship between the sloth population with Guarumo tress in cacao plantation. The sloths were equipped with radio collars which tracked their location in the plantation and their DNA samples were taken to determine their family tree and the number of offsprings they were having. The findings of the research suggested that the population of sloths with more guarumo trees had more offsprings and were more likely to survive.

The guarumo trees are crucial to the diets of sloths as they are highly nutritious, easy to digest, and available throughout the year. Also, the tree's presence helps to maintain the health of sloths in harsh environments for survival abilities. An interesting feature of the guarumo trees is its broad structures with enough places for sloths to see and to be seen by others. Sloths generally sunbath in the morning and attract each other by calling or making themselves visible to others. And, the open structures of the guarumo trees advantage them to be visible and increase the chances of reproductive opportunities.

Species Divergence Mating Problems

            Two organisms are considered to be of the same species if when they mate they produce viable offspring that are able to reproduce.  People often wondered why mating between similar species does not produce fertile offspring.  Research done by Professor Axel Imhof at Ludwig-Maximilians University in Munich provided information that displayed that the level and not the sequence of important proteins is key to reproductive isolation.  The reason why when species begin to diverge from one another their hybrids can’t reproduce is because particular genes tend to evolve at a much quicker rate than others.  These genes cause problems for one another in a hybrid mating.  These Dobzhansky-Muller pairs of genes are not compatible in a hybrid.  The results of an experiment tested on fruit flies solidified the theory that the different amounts of proteins were the cause for the unsuccessful attempts of a cross resulting in a viable offspring with the ability to reproduce effectively.   

Sources: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/11/131119112543.htm

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/07/120710120231.htm