You have been conducting research on a population of gray squirrels on your campus. Red-tailed hawks on your campus are the main predator for these squirrels. In this population, you found that squirrels with longer legs can run faster and so are less likely to be eaten by hawks and that leg length has increased over time in this population. Which of the following statements best explains the evolution of longer legs in these squirrels?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Squirrels with long legs are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on the genes for long legs to their offspring. This is an example of natural selection, where traits that increase survival and reproductive success become more common in the population over time.

You Have Been Conducting Research on a Population of Gray