Unit 2 Lab Assignment The two different types of ground cover are dark volcanic rock and sand. They are so different not only because of the texture but the pure color of them is contrasting. The volcanic rock darkened as it cooled many years ago. A predator is any organism that actively hunts for its food, or prey. In the video, the rock pocket mouse is the prey while birds are the predators. The mouse is referred to as the “snicker bar of the desert” in the video. Typically, the rock pocket mouse is light colored, like a light tan or sand color is actually better fitting. The lighter mouse is best camouflaged in the sands of the desert, away from the volcanic rock spill. Through mutation the rock pocket has darkened and is best camouflaged…show more content… I am sure there are still dark ones caught otherwise there would be no check to keep that population in check. Natural selection is what I have been referring to as one having competitive advantage. It is nature’s way of controlling the population and weeding out the weak if you will. It provides opportunity for the strong to survive and these species surviving. Through natural selection evolution occurs. According to our text, evolution is a long-term process of change in organisms caused by random changes that favor survival and reproduction of the organisms possessing the genetic change. Through this process organisms become better adapted to their surroundings. I did learn from this video, mainly about the rock pocket mouse. I am familiar with evolution and gene mutation from previous classes and learning. I will say it is videos like this that bring the text to life for me. It helps tie what I read to the real world, that is just the type of learner I am. It still amazes me how the world works and everything in it. To think a mouse was able to adapt based on the color of volcanic rock that had spilled is really neat to learn
