Question

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.

genetic drift.
genetic drift.

natural selection.
natural selection.

competitive exclusion.
competitive exclusion.

Answer 1

competitive exclusion.

Explanation: Both species now compete for the same limiting resource (acorns), and the better-adapted gray squirrels outcompete and replace the red squirrels — an example of competitive exclusion.