Gray and red squirrels share the same habitat. Red squirrels usually eat hazelnuts. After a disease kills off hazelnut trees in their environment, they have to start eating acorns. Gray squirrels are well adapted to eating acorns. The number of red squirrels decreased over time because they were not well adapated to eating acorns. Gray squirrels gradually replaced the red squirrels because they are better adapted to the environment. This change in the populations is an example of(1 point)
Responses
resource partitioning.
resource partitioning.
natural selection.
natural selection.
competitive exclusion.
competitive exclusion.
genetic drift.
1 answer
This change in the populations is an example of competitive exclusion.
Competitive exclusion occurs when two species compete for the same resources, and one species is better adapted to the environment, leading to the decline or local extinction of the less adapted species. In this case, gray squirrels are better adapted to eating acorns, allowing them to survive and thrive when red squirrels struggle with this food source after the loss of hazelnut trees.
