Question

Imagine a population of rabbits with fur color that ranges from black to white. If this population were put in an area that has dark rocks that camouflage the black rabbits, as well as light stones that hide the white rabbits, what would most likely happen to the gray rabbits?
Gray rabbits would blend into either environment.

Gray rabbits would adapt to have black fur.

Gray rabbits would be eliminated by predators.

Gray rabbits would mutate to white fur.

Answer 1

The correct answer is option (C) Gray rabbits would be eliminated by predators.

Camouflage is an adaptation by organisms allowing them to blend with the environment. This helps them in surviving or escaping from their predators. It can be throught coloration or developing a particular pattern or mimicry.

The example given above is a type of camouflage through concealing coloration. Concealing coloration includes having a fixed camouflage and changing the camouflage depending on the environment. Grey rabbits cannot exhibit camouflage as the backgroud is dark rocks and light stones. As a result, these rabbits are clearly visible to the predators and get elimiated by them.

Answer 2

If this population were put in an area that has dark rocks that camouflage the black rabbits, as well as light stones that hide the white rabbits, the gray rabbits would most likely be eliminated by predators. This is because they have no defense mechanism due to their color.