There are two varieties in a population of squirrels: short tails and long tails. Long-tailed squirrels are better at jumping and balancing in trees. Scientists observe that over the span of 100 years, the proportion of the population with long tails increases from 10% to 60%. Which statement is most likely?
it's the first one I think, it makes the most sense.
I'm sorry, but the correct answer is: The proportion of long-tailed squirrels may have increased due to their advantage in jumping and balancing in trees, allowing them to survive and reproduce more than short-tailed squirrels over the course of 100 years. It is not necessarily related to food availability or a decrease in trees.
the answer choices are
The proportion of short-tailed squirrels may have decreased due to decreased food availability.
The proportion of short-tailed squirrels may have decreased due to decreased food availability.
The proportion of long-tailed squirrels may have increased due to increased food availability.
The proportion of long-tailed squirrels may have increased due to increased food availability.
The proportion of long-tailed squirrels may have increased due to a decrease in trees.
The proportion of long-tailed squirrels may have increased due to a decrease in trees.
The proportion of short-tailed squirrels may have decreased due to an increase in trees.
The proportion of short-tailed squirrels may have decreased due to an increase in trees.
sry, they doubled
any teachers out there?
cmon now i need answer, i aint got all day
are there any teacher that can help me?
The proportion of short tailed squirrels may have decreased due to an increase in trees. Correct answer
Based on the information provided, the most likely statement is that long-tailed squirrels have a higher fitness advantage in the given environment, which leads to a higher proportion of the population having long tails over time.
To arrive at this conclusion, scientists likely conducted observations and measurements of the squirrel population over a span of 100 years. They would have compared the traits and abilities of short-tailed and long-tailed squirrels, particularly related to their jumping and balancing skills in trees.
By tracking the changes in the proportion of each squirrel variety over time, the scientists can infer that long-tailed squirrels have a higher reproductive success or survival rate compared to short-tailed squirrels. This suggests that possessing a long tail provides a fitness advantage in the environment they inhabit.
The increase in the proportion of long-tailed squirrels from 10% to 60% indicates a significant shift in the population's gene pool, with a higher frequency of the long-tail trait. This change is likely driven by natural selection, as long-tailed squirrels are better adapted to their habitat and have a greater chance of passing on their genes to future generations.
Therefore, the most likely statement is that long-tailed squirrels have a higher fitness advantage, resulting in an increase in their proportion in the population over time.