Which type of selection would most likely lead to a shift toward darker fur in a rabbit population.
a. stabilizing
b. disruptive
c. acquired
d. directional
The correct answer is d. directional selection.
Directional selection occurs when certain phenotypes have a higher fitness than others, leading to an increase or decrease in the frequency of those traits within a population over time. In this case, if darker fur provides a selective advantage (e.g., camouflage, improved heat absorption), then rabbits with darker fur will have higher reproductive success, and the frequency of darker fur alleles will increase within the population. Therefore, directional selection would most likely lead to a shift toward darker fur in a rabbit population.