Question

a population of rabbits has individuals with fur coloring that ranges from white to brown. the population lives in a temperate deciduous forest where the summers are mild and average about 50°f. the winters are often below freezing. if warmer temperatures last longer into the fall and the average temperature in the winter is getting warmer, what do you expect to happen to the population? the percentage of the population with brown fur will decrease. the percentage of the population with white fur will decrease. the population will increase in size, but the color percentages will remain unchanged. the population will decrease in size, but the color percentages will remain unchanged.

Explanation:

In a temperate deciduous forest, white fur likely helps rabbits camouflage in winter snow. With warmer winters (less snow), white - furred rabbits have less camouflage advantage, so their survival and reproduction chances decrease. Thus, the percentage of white - furred rabbits in the population will decrease. The other options are incorrect: brown - furred rabbits may have more advantage with less snow (so their percentage should increase, not decrease); warmer temperatures would likely allow more resources, so population size would change and color percentages too (so options about unchanged color percentages or population size decrease are wrong).

Answer:

The percentage of the population with white fur will decrease.