For many, many years the rabbits that lived in the cold, snowy countryside of Canada were white most of the year. Recently, scientists have noticed that many of the white rabbits in the countryside have been replaced by gray rabbits.

Question

For many, many years the rabbits that lived in the cold, snowy countryside of Canada were white most of the year. Recently, scientists have noticed that many of the white rabbits in the countryside have been replaced by gray rabbits.
Describe how the white fur helped the rabbits survive. Why has the color of rabbit fur changed over the years? (SHORT ANSWER)

GPT-4o mini · Answer

The white fur of rabbits helped them survive in the snowy countryside by providing effective camouflage against predators, allowing them to blend in with their winter environment. This adaptation reduced their visibility and increased their chances of evading capture. However, as climate change has caused warmer winters and reduced snow coverage, the white fur has become less effective for camouflage. Gray rabbits, which are better suited to the changing environment, may have higher survival rates, leading to a gradual shift in the population from white to gray rabbits over the years.