Final answer:
In the context of natural selection, an increase in the number of pale white tree trunks would make pale white colored beetles more common, as it would provide them with better camouflage against predators.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is regarding how a change in the environment could affect the coloration of a population of hypothetical beetles. When we consider the role of natural selection in the evolution of species, we can apply the historical example of the peppered moth during the industrial revolution. Prior to the industrial revolution, the bark of trees was lighter, and thus dark colored moths were more prone to predation, making the light form more common. However, as pollution darkened the barks of trees, the dark moths became better camouflaged, leading to an increase in their numbers due to a decrease in predation. Given this information, the scenario that would make the pale white coloration of the hypothetical beetles more common would be an increase in the number of pale white tree trunks, as this would enhance their camouflage and decrease predation by birds and other predators.
Therefore, among the given options, the one that would lead to a higher prevalence of pale white coloration among the beetles would be:
- An increase in the number of pale white tree trunks.