Rock pocket mice species in New Mexico exist as mostly tan in color and easily blend in with the limestone rocks and sand that cover the landscape of this region. About a thousand years ago there was a volcanic eruption which created lava flows on the surface which cooled and turned into a darker black rock color. The rock pocket mice living on the black rocks needed an adaptation to survive against visual predators like hawks and owls. Over multiple generations the population living amongst the black lava flow were observed to change to a black-furred color. Which statement below explains how this might have occurred?

Question 15 options:

Mice fur color cannot change, so they did not survive, rather a new species migrated to this area.

The change of fur color within the population over time became black as a result of the lava flow and allowed the mice to survive.

Mice fur color only changes when exposed to environmental factors such as UV radiation and pollutants.

The change of fur color within the population over time happened as a result of a mutation in one or more mice, allowing them to survive and pass along the mutated gene to future generations.