Variation 1 is becoming more common in the rat population likely due to its increased fitness in the prevailing environmental conditions. For instance, if variation 1 offers advantages such as better camouflage from predators, more efficient foraging abilities, or a higher reproductive success rate, individuals possessing this trait would be more likely to survive and reproduce. Over time, these advantages would lead to an increase in the frequency of variation 1 in the population, demonstrating the process of natural selection favoring traits that enhance survival and reproductive success.
Imagine you are a scientist observing a wild population of rats. You study the population for many years. Your focus is counting how many individuals have each of the pictured variations.
As the individuals in this population reproduce, those with variation 1 slowly begin to outnumber those with variation 2.
Using what you know about Natural Selection, explain in 2 or more sentences why variation 1 is becoming more common. You may talk more generally or you may make specific guesses about the population's environment.
(2 points)
0 / 10000 Word Limit
Skip to navigation
1 answer