In 9th grade work and writing Red-eyed tree frog eggs can hatch up to two days earlier than average when they detect vibrations. However, if they hatch more than two days earlier than expected due to vibrations, the embryos are typically not developed enough to survive outside of the egg. Explain how natural selection inhibited frog eggs from hatching any earlier than two days before expected hatching. Explain your answer in 1–2 sentences.
Natural selection likely favored frog eggs that hatched up to two days earlier in response to vibrations, as this would increase their chance of survival by allowing them to escape potential threats. However, hatching more than two days early may not have provided enough time for proper development, leading to decreased survival rates and ultimately discouraging this trait from being passed down through generations. Therefore, the limit of two days before expected hatching likely evolved as a balance between the benefits of early hatching and the risks of premature development.
