Question

2. The ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment is called "fitness." But, it

one version (called the allele) of a trait (like fur color) enables an organism to survive and reproduce
better than other organisms in that same environment, we say that it has a "selective advantage".
Explain how fur color can provide a selective advantage.

Answer 1

Traits, like fur colour, can be selectively advantageous for organisms belonging to a certain species.

Fur colours often allow organisms to better hide from their predators

For example, consider a brown fur coloured squirrel and a white fur coloured squirrel. The brown coloured squirrel will be better adapted to hide from its predators as its colour can camouflage with the colour of the woods. The white colour squirrel will not have such a selective advantage and will have more chances to be eaten up by its predator.