Question

the woolly mammoth was a relative of modern elephants that lived in the cold, northern parts of the world tens of millions of years ago. mammoths in warmer parts of the world lacked the warm, shaggy fur the woolly mammoth developed. which of the following sentences best describes how natural selection resulted in the woolly mammoth?
a. mammoths with thicker fur were more successful at surviving and reproducing in cold climates.
b. mammoths stopped shedding. eventually, they lost the ability to shed fur.
c. cold climates triggered the growth of thick, warm fur on mammoths.
d. mammoths used their hair follicles to grow fur more often, resulting in stronger hair follicles.

Explanation:

To determine the correct answer, we analyze each option based on the concept of natural selection:

• Option A: Mammoths with thicker fur would be more likely to survive the cold climate (as they can stay warm) and reproduce, passing on the thick - fur trait. This aligns with natural selection, where advantageous traits (thick fur in cold) lead to greater survival and reproduction.
• Option B: Losing the ability to shed fur is not an advantage in a cold climate context for natural selection. If they can't shed fur, it doesn't explain how the woolly mammoth developed its traits through natural selection.
• Option C: Cold climates triggering fur growth is more of a physiological response rather than natural selection. Natural selection is about differential survival and reproduction of individuals with certain traits, not just a trigger for growth.
• Option D: Mammoths using hair follicles to grow fur more often and resulting in stronger hair follicles is not a correct description of natural selection. Natural selection acts on the traits (like fur thickness) that affect survival and reproduction, not on the "use" of hair follicles in this way.

Answer:

A. Mammoths with thicker fur were more successful at surviving and reproducing in cold climates