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 Recently, scientists have noticed that many of the white rabbits in the countryside have been replaced by gray rabbits.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 Recently, scientists have noticed that many of the white rabbits in the countryside have been replaced by gray rabbits.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 the rabbits helped them survive in the snowy countryside by providing effective camouflage against predators, allowing them to blend into their winter environment. This reduced their visibility and increased their chances of evading detection. Over the years, the color of rabbit fur has changed due to environmental factors, such as changing climate conditions that result in less snowfall and the expansion of habitats where gray fur offers better camouflage. This shift may be driven by natural selection, favoring rabbits that can better blend into their surroundings in warmer months when snow cover is diminished.