Question

rock pocket mice live in the deserts of the american southwest. ancestral pocket mice all had light - colored coats that blended in with the regions rocks and sandy soil, keeping the mice hidden from predatory owls. about 1.7 million years ago, a series of volcanic eruptions spewed out wide trails of black lava into the middle of rock pocket mouse territory. currently there are two color morphs of rock pocket mice: light - colored mice that are typically found in habitats with sandy soil, and dark - colored mice that are typically found in habitats with dark - colored lava rocks. which of the following best justifies the claim that alleles that may be adaptive in one type of environment can be deleterious in another because of different selective pressures? a light - and dark - colored mice survive in many environments because they are able to avoid predation by moving into tunnels. b light - colored mice are more likely to survive than dark - colored mice in habitats with lava rocks and sandy soil. c light - colored mice are significantly more susceptible to predation by owls in habitats with lava rocks than in habitats with sandy soil. d dark - colored mice are more likely to survive than light - colored mice in habitats with lava rocks and sandy soil.

Explanation:

The claim is about how alleles can be adaptive in one environment and deleterious in another due to selective pressures. In the case of rock - pocket mice, light - colored mice blend with sandy soil and dark - colored mice blend with lava rocks. Light - colored mice are at a disadvantage in lava rock habitats as they are more visible to predators (owls), showing that the allele for light color, which is adaptive in sandy soil habitats, is deleterious in lava rock habitats.

Answer:

C. Light - colored mice are significantly more susceptible to predation by owls in habitats with lava rocks than in habitats with sandy soil.