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?
The mutation causing a fox to have white fur instead of brown would be classified as a beneficial mutation. It is beneficial because in their environment of snowy grounds, having white fur provides better camouflage and helps them blend in with the surroundings, making it easier for them to hunt and hide from predators.
With white fur, the fox would be more likely to survive as it gains an advantage in both hunting and avoiding predation. The white fur helps them remain inconspicuous to their prey, increasing their chances of successfully hunting small mammals and rodents. Additionally, it provides better camouflage, making it harder for predators like eagles, wolves, and polar bears to spot them against the snowy background.