Natural Selection and the Rock Pocket Mouse — HHMI BioInteractive Video

New Mexico’s Valley of fire has changed due to what natural disaster that occured about 1000 years ago?

• Landslides

• Volcanic Eruptions

• Earthquakes

• Ice Age

What has changed the color of the rocks in this area?

• Nothing changed it

• Sun turned the rocks lighter

• As lava cooled it darkened 

• A river eroded the rocks

Which adaptation below was affected by this change in landscape?

• Camoflauge

• Jumping ability

• Speed

• Size

What animal are they studying?

• Owl

• Rattlesnake

• Lizard

• Rock Pocket Mouse

How does the mouse’s fur color on dessert sand help it adapt to its environment?

• Blend in 

• Help it find a mate

• Stand out

• Keeps it warmer

What happens when these same mice wind up on dark lava?

• They find more food

• Become visible to predators

• Their feet get tougher

• They blend in better

Why does it matter that hawks and owls are visual predators?

What color are the mice that now live where the lava flows came though?

• Black and tan

• Tan

• Black

• Spotted

Since the mice have no preference to light or dark rock, how else can you explain why mice with dark fur are surviving at higher rates?

How did the black mice arise?

• They dyed their fur

• Nothing 

• Mutations

• Genetic Variation