How does natural selection affect the survival of the white coat trait in wild habitats?
Answer
It imposes a slight disadvantage due to poor camouflage.
In natural environments, the forces of natural selection tend to suppress the propagation of the white coat trait. Standard orange and black patterning provides superior cryptic coloration, allowing tigers to effectively camouflage themselves within varied backdrops such as dense foliage or dappled light conditions, which is essential for stalking prey. A pure white coat, conversely, stands out significantly against most natural settings. This increased visibility makes it harder for the white tiger to successfully hunt and may increase its vulnerability to detection by prey or rivals, thereby imposing a survival disadvantage that keeps the trait rare in the wild.
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