Bot. A species of fox lives in the arctic where the ground is covered in white snow most of the year. These arctic foxes hunt rodents and other small mammals, while their predators include eagles, wolves, and polar bears. A 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 and stay on topic.
The mutation causing the arctic fox to have white fur instead of brown can be classified as a beneficial mutation in this particular environment. The white fur provides camouflage against the snowy background, helping the fox blend in and evade detection by predators such as eagles, wolves, and polar bears. This increased camouflage makes it more likely for the white fur foxes to survive and reproduce compared to their brown fur counterparts, as they have a higher chance of avoiding predation and passing on their genes.
Therefore, in the context of the arctic environment where the ground is covered in white snow most of the year, the mutation for white fur can be considered a beneficial adaptation that enhances the survival and reproductive success of the arctic fox population.