Melissa Kemp is a conservation paleobiologist who studies how biodiversity has changed (and is changing) over time by integrating paleontology and genetics. She has studied how lizards in the Caribbean have evolved in response to changing ecological factors, including climate change. In one of her studies, Kemp identified that larger lizards were less likely to survive than smaller lizards. (1) Propose a hypothesis for what evolutionary mechanism could lead to this observation. (2) How could anthropogenic climate change potentially accelerate these evolutionary changes?

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1. Identify the key observation from Kemp's study: larger lizards have lower survival rates compared to smaller lizards. Consider what evolutionary pressures or mechanisms could cause this pattern.
2. Formulate a hypothesis based on natural selection. For example, hypothesize that smaller lizards require less food and are more agile, making them better suited to survive in changing environments.
3. Consider the genetic aspect of the study. Think about how genetic variations in lizard populations might contribute to differences in size and how these genetic traits could be passed down to future generations.
4. Discuss how anthropogenic climate change could influence these evolutionary mechanisms. Consider factors such as habitat alteration, changes in food availability, and temperature changes, which could favor certain traits over others.
5. Explore how the rate of these changes might be accelerated by human activities. For instance, rapid climate change could lead to quicker shifts in the environment, requiring faster adaptation and potentially leading to more pronounced evolutionary changes.