Hundreds of years ago, a population of rats contained an even mix of tan rats and dark brown rats. The population was split by habitat disturbance into two distinct populations: one that ranged westward into the temperate forests and one that ranged eastward into a coastal area. Now, the temperate forest population contains about 90% brown individuals and 10% tan individuals. The coastal rat population contains 100% tan rats.

What is likely to be true about the inheritance pattern of this phenotype, and why did the phenotypes shift in particular ways for these populations? Select the best and most complete answer.

A. The tan fur trait is controlled by a recessive allele, and the phenotype is expressed in homozygous recessive individuals. Selection pressure caused by predation likely made tan fur advantageous on the coast and brown fur advantageous in the forests.

B. The tan fur trait is controlled by a dominant allele, and the phenotype is expressed in homozygous dominant and heterozygous individuals. The rats that moved to the coastal habitat adapted to the tan color because they needed to for survival.

C. The tan fur trait is controlled by a dominant allele, and the phenotype is expressed in homozygous dominant and heterozygous individuals. Selection pressure caused by predation likely made tan fur advantageous on the coast and brown fur advantageous in the forests.

D. The tan fur trait is controlled by a recessive allele, and the phenotype is expressed in homozygous dominant and heterozygous individuals. Selection pressure caused by predation likely made tan fur advantageous on the coast and brown fur advantageous in the forests.

E. The gray fur trait is likely controlled by a dominant allele, and the phenotype is expressed in homozygous dominant and heterozygous individuals. The wolves that moved to snowy habitats adapted to be white because they needed to, and the wolf population that moved to the forests adapted to be grey.