10:49 LTE 38 Take Quiz Exit This assessment is not timed; you will have just one opportunity. Question 3 0.1 pts A biologist conducting a long-term field study noticed there were two types of mice in a valley. One type of mouse had webbed toes, and one type of mouse lacked webbed toes. A dam was built in the valley turning the land into a wetland. As the years passed, all mice living in the valley were found to have webbed toes. No mice were found with non-webbed toes. Which statement best explains the observed change in the mouse population? A) Webbed toes in mice are controlled by the environment. B) The mice grew webbing to move more efficiently in the new environment. C) Webbed-toed mice survived better and reproduced more than mice without webbed toes. D) The increased water levels in the valley increased the mutation rate in the mouse population. A B C D Previous Next Not saved Submi
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In the natural world, changes in environment often lead to evolutionary changes within species. The situation with the mice in the valley is a classic example of natural selection at work. As the wetland environment became their new habitat, mice with webbed toes were likely better adapted for swimming and navigating the wetter terrain, allowing them to survive and reproduce more than their non-webbed counterparts. This scenario is a great reminder of how important adaptations can be! In this case, if natural selection continues to act on these mice, we might see even more fascinating traits emerge over generations. It’s a beautiful demonstration of how life evolves in response to changing circumstances.
