The starry- oak tree in western Canada produces nutrient rich acorns (nuts) that are a food source for many organisms. In forests where these oaks dominate , yellow ruffle mice rely on acorns as a major food supply, as do lodgepole chipmunks.

Let V(t) be the number of individuals of the yellow-ruffed mice as a function of time ‘t’.

Similarly, we let W(t) be the number of the lodgepine chipmunks as a function of t.

Consider the following system of differential equations to model the population of these two species.

dV/dt = 2V{1- (V+2W)/3000} ———–(1)

dW/dt = 3W{1-(W+4V)/1200} ———-(2)

QUESTION:  Suppose that in the original scenario described, some lodgepine chipmunks have a mutation that allow them to also feed on and prefer (relative to acorns) several types of insects in the area. Predict what would occur in such a scenario explaining your answer in terms of fitness.