In an experiment, 1000 rodents were released into a light brown sandy area where no rodents previously existed. The rodents' fur color was either brown, black, or tan. There was a known predator of the rodents in the same area.

After several generations, what fur color frequency would a researcher expect to see?

A) Rodents of all three fur colors will maintain the same frequency, as they are at equilibrium for all genes in the gene pool.

B) Rodents with brown fur color will decrease in frequency since they will be outcompeted by both lighter and darker furred rodents.

C) Rodents with black fur color will decrease in frequency as they are more visible to the predator against the light sand background.

D) Rodents with tan fur color will decrease in frequency as they are unable to absorb as much solar radiation as darker mice and will have access to less free energy.

Question

Biology

Hugh Osborne

13 January, 20:37

In an experiment, 1000 rodents were released into a light brown sandy area where no rodents previously existed. The rodents' fur color was either brown, black, or tan. There was a known predator of the rodents in the same area.

After several generations, what fur color frequency would a researcher expect to see?

A) Rodents of all three fur colors will maintain the same frequency, as they are at equilibrium for all genes in the gene pool.

B) Rodents with brown fur color will decrease in frequency since they will be outcompeted by both lighter and darker furred rodents.

C) Rodents with black fur color will decrease in frequency as they are more visible to the predator against the light sand background.

D) Rodents with tan fur color will decrease in frequency as they are unable to absorb as much solar radiation as darker mice and will have access to less free energy.

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Answers (1)

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Karma · Answer 1

C) Rodents with black fur color will decrease in frequency as they are more visible to the predator against the light sand background.

Explanation:

As we know that the area that the rodents were released has a light color and a rodent predator, we can conclude that the black-colored rodents will be the ones that will be most captured by the predator and will decrease its frequency. This will happen because the brown and tan rodents are more similar to the color of the place and therefore will be able to stay camouflaged, making it difficult for the predator to see them, this does not happen with the black rodent that will be easily seen and captured.