A group of mice used to include many mice with spotted fur and a few with solid fur. Then, the habitat changed from sunny to shady. A student predicted that natural selection should result in a population that has more solid mice than spotted mice

Question

Student's Explanation: Mice with solid fur will be more difficult to see in the shady habitat, so fewer predators will find them. This means that more solid mice will pass their fur color trait to the next generation

Change in Fur Color Trait in Mouse Population

Number of Generations After the Habitat Changed
0, 10, 20, 30
Ratio of Spotted Fur to Solid Fur
4:1

7:3

1:1

1:3

Why does the evidence in the table support the student's explanation? Select the two statements that apply.

A. The ratio increased over time.

B. The ratio decreased over time.

C. The ratio increased and then decreased over time.

D. More solid mice than spotted mice survived in the first ten generations after the habitat changed.

E. Gradually, a higher proportion of solid mice than spotted mice survived after the habitat changed.

Answer 1

The evidence in the table supports the student's explanation through the following statements:

B. The ratio decreased over time.
This is evident from the ratios going from 4:1 (spotted to solid) to 1:3, demonstrating that the number of spotted mice decreased relative to solid mice.

E. Gradually, a higher proportion of solid mice than spotted mice survived after the habitat changed.
The progression in the ratios from 4:1 to 1:3 indicates that over time, solid mice became more prevalent and survivors in the population due to their better camouflage in the new shady habitat.

Therefore, the two selected statements that apply are B and E.