The collared lemming is a small mammal that lives in the arctic tundra. Collared lemmings have white fur in winter and brown fur in summer. For most of the year, the arctic tundra is covered by snow. During this time, collared lemmings remain active in tunnels they make in the snow. The snow provides insulation and a place where the lemmings raise several litters of 3–5 offspring each year. The fur color of collared lemmings changes to white at a certain time of the year. 1. a. Explain how the change in fur color is an advantage to collared lemmings. When temperatures rise above freezing, snow melts, which causes changes in the collared lemmings’ habitat.

b. Describe two ways warming temperatures could cause the size of the collared lemming population to decrease.

c. Describe how fur color in the collared lemming population will likely change over time as temperatures increase because of climate change. Explain your answer using the principles of natural selection