Asked by diddy

In animal populations, genes help determine when an organism will breed during the year. Scientists have observed that the distribution of the time-of-year breeding genes in animal populations has been changing as average global temperatures increase. Red squirrels in Canada are one example of a population that has shown a shift in the frequency of certain genes. Scientists have observed the genes related to breeding earlier in the spring are increasing in red squirrel populations. The chart shown below provides some information about red squirrels.







Which statement BEST describes why the genes for early breeding are increasing in red squirrel populations?


More individuals are selecting to have the genes for early breeding because they are beneficial.


Red squirrels are coming out of hibernation earlier which increases the genes for early breeding.


Individuals with the genes for early breeding are surviving and passing the genes onto offspring.


The increase in the average global temperatures is causing the genes for early breeding to increase.

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
Individuals with the genes for early breeding are surviving and passing the genes onto offspring.

This describes natural selection: squirrels with alleles for earlier breeding have higher reproductive success under warmer conditions, so those alleles increase in frequency over generations.