[Campbell Biology P.550] The snowshoe hare example Figure 23.19 and its inability to adapt t... | Practice Question

The snowshoe hare example Figure 23.19 and its inability to adapt to later snowfall due to unchanging coat color molting illustrates which limitation of natural selection?

  • A: Adaptations are often compromises.
  • B: Evolution is limited by historical constraints.
  • C: Selection can act only on existing variations.
  • D: Natural selection always produces perfect organisms.

Explanation

The snowshoe hare example is presented under the heading '1. Selection can act only on existing variations,' explaining that the hares cannot adapt to later snowfall because their gene pools lack alleles that would delay molting.