RPM CARDS
It killed off the light colored mice and increased the dark colored mice population.
Why are some mice light colored and some mice dark colored?
Gene mutations.
What events led to the mice fur color becoming darker?
The dried lava witch is black, and mutations.
What happened to the white mice when the volcano erupted.
The white mice died off, started getting hunted by the predators due to the ground change and not being able to camouflage
How did the black mice come to be in the first place
Genetic mutations within their DNA changed their skin/fur color.
Does fur color provide any selective advantage or disadvantage?
It depends on the backround. For light colored mice its good in light background, for dark colored mice its good in a dark background. (Answers may vary)
The mice have no preference for light or dark colored rock, so why would mice with dark fur survive at higher rates than lighter mice in a dark background?
The dark fur can blend in with the background which is dried lava and predators will have a harder time seeing them.
If an Eagle which relies on eating mice and mice rely on eating worms what will happen to the eagles if the worms die off?
The eagles will either die off
Why is it important that the mice blend in with their background?
To avoid predators like birds, snakes or anything else that eats them.
What role does the rock pocket mouse play in the desert food web?
They eat smaller insects and seeds, and they serve as food for bigger birds. (Answer may vary)
What is a mutation? Are they positive or negative?
A mutation is a change in the DNA. They can either be beneficial or harmful.
What happens to a population of white and black mice when most predators are nocturnal and hunt in the night
The white mice which are more visible in the night will die off
How come in the last few images there are more darker mice than light?
Due to the new dark colored ground because of the lava drying, the lighter colored mice aren't able to blend into the ground and they are eaten and killed off by predators while the dark colored mice are able to blend in and hide making it able for them to live and reproduce more, causing more darker colored mice. (Answer may vary)
How does the rock pocket mouse's color influence its overall fitness?
The rock pocket mouse's color influences its overall fitness because it's color should help it blend into the ground so they aren't eaten by predators. However if they are not able blend into their environment then they will die and reproduce less. (Answers may vary)
Is it possible for a species to evolve in 1000 years? Why?
It is not possible for a species to evolve in 1000 years because evolution is a long process that can take a million generations or more.
What happens to a population of Giraffes with a variety of long and short necks that eat mainly tree leaves. When trees slowly evolve to get taller to avoid different predators. What will happen to the giraffes population
The Giraffes will slowly evolve to have taller necks and the Giraffes with short necks will die off.
How come lighter mice still exist in the newly dark environment?
It takes around a million years for evolution to take place.
Knowing what you have learned about evolution and the rock pocket mice, explain how mutation is a random process. But natural selection is not random.
Mutation is random because they are caused by random changes in the DNA. However natural selection takes lots of time, precision, and is caused by SPECIFIC change in the environment or predators or both. (Answers may vary)
What is the gene that controls the mice fur color.
The gene is called Mc1r.
What is the selective pressure of skin color?
the intensity of UV radiation