# A population of Arctic foxes living in a snowy environment includes individuals with white fur and individuals with brown fur. Over many generations, the proportion of white-furred foxes in the population increased significantly. Describe how natural selection resulted in this change in the population.

> Edexcel A-Level Biology A: Salters-Nuffield (9BN0) — 2.6 Adaptation and natural selection · Describe · 5 marks

> Arctic foxes live in snowy environments where they hunt prey and are at risk from larger predators. Fur colour in Arctic foxes is determined by genes and is inherited by offspring.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. There is variation in fur colour within the population (white and brown fur)
2. White-furred foxes are better camouflaged / better adapted to the snowy environment
3. White-furred foxes are more likely to survive / less likely to be predated / more likely to catch prey
4. White-furred foxes are more likely to reproduce and pass on the gene/allele for white fur to offspring
5. Over many generations, the frequency of the white fur gene/allele increases in the population

## Key terms

- [natural selection](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/natural-selection)
- [gene](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/gene)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Edexcel A-Level Biology A: Salters-Nuffield (9BN0)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Describe" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

---
Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-population-of-arctic-foxes-living-75497d94) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.