Question

Rabbits use camouflage as a way to hide from predators. A population of rabbits ranging in color from brown to white lives in a forest ecosystem where much of the soil and vegetation is brown. However, a recent climate change has resulted in most of the forest floor being covered in snow.

Which of the following will most likely occur?

Answer 1

The change in the forest floor from brown to white due to snow cover will likely cause the rabbits with white fur to have an advantage over the rabbits with brown fur. This is because the white rabbits will blend in with their surroundings and be less visible to predators, while the brown rabbits will stand out against the snow-covered background and be more easily spotted by predators.

As a result, the white rabbits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their genes for white fur to their offspring. Over time, the proportion of white rabbits in the population may increase, while the proportion of brown rabbits may decrease. This process is an example of natural selection, where certain traits become more or less common in a population based on their survival and reproductive advantages.

Therefore, the most likely occurrence in this scenario is an increase in the proportion of white rabbits in the population over time.