Question

The evolutionary significance of coat color variation among jaguars (Panthera onca) remains uncertain. There is speculation that, in terms of hunting success, solid dark fur (melanism) may confer an advantage in dimly lit understories of dense, mature forests, while lighter-colored fur with small dark rosettes may provide more effective camouflage in open, grass-dominated habitats (e.g., prairies and savannas). Accordingly, some people wonder whether adaptive changes in coat color have accompanied broad-scale changes in habitat brought about by anthropogenic or other disturbances (e.g., deforestation). To test this possibility, researchers censused fur color among jaguars living in a region of the Amazon forest that, in recent decades, has undergone substantial land-use change (i.e., conversion to open savanna, pastures and cropland). Census results in the 1970s, based on sightings, indicated that 9% of the jaguar population in the region had solid black coats. A follow-up census of the same population in 2019, using genetic analysis of fecal samples, indicated that frequency of the dominant allele (15 bp deletion in MC1R gene) linked to a dark coat was 0.05 (or 5%). Based solely on these data, is there any evidence suggesting that deforestation has led to a putatively adaptive decrease in the relative abundance of melanistic jaguars? Make sure to include the quantitative analysis you rely on to justify your conclusion. Using only the date provided.

Answer 1

According to some researches,the increase in melanin hormone that creats black coat on its' body does not depend on natural selections only.But it  depends on adaptation sometimes.Many animals go through adaptation to protect themselves from danger.Due to industrialization and deforestation,animals are losing their habitats.The jaguars which stay in dense and moist forests tend to have more black color on their bodies as melanin hormone is reported to be present more in dense areas.This black color helps them in camoflouge when hiding in dense and dark regions.But when they move to lighter side , this does not help.Due to deforestation,the dense forests are being reduced.That is why the adaptation is happening and the jaguars are losing their dark color.