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 Recently, scientists have noticed that many of the white rabbits in the countryside have been replaced by gray rabbits.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. Explain why the color of rabbit fur is changing over the years.

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 Recently, scientists have noticed that many of the white rabbits in the countryside have been replaced by gray rabbits.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. Explain why the color of rabbit fur is changing over the years.

Explanation.

Answer 1

The white fur of the rabbits in the snowy countryside of Canada provided camouflage and allowed them to blend into their surroundings, making it difficult for predators to spot them. This adaptation helped the rabbits to survive in their environment, as it made it easier for them to evade detection and avoid being eaten by predators.

The changing color of rabbit fur over the years could be attributed to a variety of factors, including climate change, changes in the predator prey dynamics, and genetic mutations. As the climate changes and the snow cover in the countryside decreases, the advantage of having white fur for camouflage may decrease, making gray fur a more favorable adaptation for survival. Additionally, changes in the predator-prey dynamics, such as the introduction of new predators or changes in the population of existing predators, may have also contributed to this change. Finally, genetic mutations may have resulted in gray fur becoming more common in the rabbit population over time.