Question
Because resources are limited in nature, organisms with inherited traits that favor survival and reproduction will tend to survive and have more offspring, causing the traits to increase in frequency over many generations. New traits can be introduced through mutation. Whether or not the new trait is advantageous depends on the environment.
If there is a change to the environment in which the habitat is snow-covered three times as much as normal, what do you think might happen to the rabbit population?
The rabbits with mottled fur will continue to be the most common in the population because their trait is more favorable. The genetic advantage depends on the trait, not the environment.
The rabbits with mottled fur will continue to be the most common in the population because their trait is more favorable. The genetic advantage depends on the trait, not the environment.
The white fur color could become advantageous for camouflage, causing the white rabbits to increase in number while the brown and mottled fur rabbits decrease in number due to being spotted more easily by predators.
The white fur color could become advantageous for camouflage, causing the white rabbits to increase in number while the brown and mottled fur rabbits decrease in number due to being spotted more easily by predators.
The brown furred rabbits will survive better because their trait was not caused by a mutation. Rabbits with mutations do not survive as well.
If there is a change to the environment in which the habitat is snow-covered three times as much as normal, what do you think might happen to the rabbit population?
The rabbits with mottled fur will continue to be the most common in the population because their trait is more favorable. The genetic advantage depends on the trait, not the environment.
The rabbits with mottled fur will continue to be the most common in the population because their trait is more favorable. The genetic advantage depends on the trait, not the environment.
The white fur color could become advantageous for camouflage, causing the white rabbits to increase in number while the brown and mottled fur rabbits decrease in number due to being spotted more easily by predators.
The white fur color could become advantageous for camouflage, causing the white rabbits to increase in number while the brown and mottled fur rabbits decrease in number due to being spotted more easily by predators.
The brown furred rabbits will survive better because their trait was not caused by a mutation. Rabbits with mutations do not survive as well.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
In the scenario where the habitat becomes snow-covered three times as much as normal, the most likely outcome for the rabbit population is that the white fur color could become advantageous for camouflage. As a result, white rabbits may have a higher chance of survival than those with brown or mottled fur, leading to an increase in the number of white rabbits and a decrease in the others.
The mottled fur, which may have been advantageous in a less snowy environment, could make those rabbits more visible to predators against a white background, putting them at a disadvantage. Similarly, brown rabbits would also be more easily spotted in a snow-covered environment.
On the other hand, the brown-furred rabbits surviving better simply because their trait was not caused by mutation is not a valid argument in this context; survival is determined by how well-suited a trait is to the environment, regardless of whether it was a mutation or an inherited trait.
Thus, the correct conclusion is that increased snow cover could lead to a shift in the rabbit population favoring those with white fur, as they would blend in better with their surroundings, increasing their chances of survival and reproduction.
The mottled fur, which may have been advantageous in a less snowy environment, could make those rabbits more visible to predators against a white background, putting them at a disadvantage. Similarly, brown rabbits would also be more easily spotted in a snow-covered environment.
On the other hand, the brown-furred rabbits surviving better simply because their trait was not caused by mutation is not a valid argument in this context; survival is determined by how well-suited a trait is to the environment, regardless of whether it was a mutation or an inherited trait.
Thus, the correct conclusion is that increased snow cover could lead to a shift in the rabbit population favoring those with white fur, as they would blend in better with their surroundings, increasing their chances of survival and reproduction.