O’Neill Pass is a deep canyon which has lots of shade at different times of the day. Propose one hypothesis that would explain why there are more dark-colored rock pocket mice in O’Neill Pass even though the soil color is light. Use an “If...then….because” format. Article: Rock pocket mice live in the intense heat of the desert southwest United States in intensely hot environments. Rock
pocket mice primarily eat seeds, though they have been know to also
consume insects. These nocturnal animals make burrows in soil close
to, or under rocks, which they use to escape owls, their main predator,
store food and as homes for their young. The breeding season of the
rock pocket mouse spans a few weeks from early February to the end of
March; litters are typically between 3 and 6 pups.
Rock pocket mice are an excellent example of natural selection. Two
scientists Charles Darwin and Alfred Russell Wallace independently
proposed natural selection. Natural selection states that organisms
whose phenotype is well suited to their environment have a greater
chance of reproductive success (having healthy babies) and passing their
genes on to the next generation.