A species with two colour variation one mostly green and one is brown.How might populations of species change if the environment becomes a patchwork of tiny green and brown splotches?
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If the environment becomes a patchwork of tiny green and brown splotches, it can have an impact on the populations of a species with two color variations, mostly green and brown. Here is how the populations might change:
1. Natural Selection: In this patchwork environment, the green color variation of the species would likely have an advantage in the green splotches, as it blends in with the surroundings and is less visible to predators. On the other hand, the brown color variation would have an advantage in the brown splotches for the same reason. Natural selection would favor individuals with colorations that match their surrounding environment, making them less vulnerable to predation.
2. Differential Reproduction: Over time, the individuals that blend in the best with their surroundings, either green or brown, would have a higher chance of surviving and reproducing successfully. This would lead to an increase in the population of the color variation that is more advantageous in each specific patch.
3. Color Frequency: As the populations adapt to their respective environments, the frequency of the green and brown color variations may change. The green color variation would become more common in the green splotches, while the brown color variation would become more common in the brown splotches. This change in color frequency could occur through genetic variation and natural selection.
It is important to note that these changes would not happen overnight but would occur over many generations as individuals with traits that are better suited to their environment have higher survival rates and reproduce more effectively.