a species of fox lives in the arctic where the ground is covered in white snow most of the year. the arctic foxes hunt rodents and other small mammals while their predators include eagles wolves and polar bears a mutation would you classify this mutation in its DNA causes a fox to have white fur rather than brown given this information would you classify this mutation as a harmful beneficial or neutral mutation would this make the fox more or less likely to survive explain your answer
Based on the given information, the mutation causing a fox to have white fur instead of brown in the arctic habitat would be classified as a beneficial mutation.
Explanation:
1. Beneficial mutation: The white fur would provide camouflage in the arctic environment covered with white snow most of the year. This enhanced camouflage would make it easier for the fox to conceal itself from predators (eagles, wolves, and polar bears) while hunting, increasing its chances of survival.
2. Harmful mutation: If the white fur mutation made the fox more visible to its predators or hindered its ability to effectively hunt prey, it would be considered a harmful mutation.
3. Neutral mutation: If the mutation did not have any significant effect on the fox's survival or reproductive success in the arctic environment, it would be classified as a neutral mutation.
In this case, the white fur mutation provides a clear advantage for the fox as it matches the snowy surroundings, making it less likely to be detected by both prey and predators. Therefore, this mutation is considered beneficial for the fox's survival in the arctic habitat.