Question

Which of the following is an example of natural selection? During an especially cold winter, brown squirrels that had thick coats survived at higher rates than brown squirrels whose coats were not as thick. A black squirrel travels from its population to an entirely new population of brown squirrels. Most of the brown squirrels that had thick coats were killed during a forest fire. Brown and black squirrels mated and produced offspring that were brownish-black.

Answer 1

The correct anser is option (A) During an especially cold winter, brown squirrels that had thick coats survived at higher rates than brown squirrels whose coats were not as thick.

Natural selection is a mechanism of evolution proposed by Charles Darwin. It is the differential survival and reproduction of individual due to the difference in the phenotype. Over time, this process results in populations which are better adapted to their environment as they tend to survive and produce new offspring.  The brown squirrels with thick coat survive at a higher rate than the brown sqirrels without the thick coat. Thick coat is a adaptation for survival in cold winters which are chosen over the other and allowed to reproduce.