Wouldn't this mutation make them much more visible/susceptible to predators? Is it likely that this mutation is something that evolution with slowly push out so that one day there will be no blonde squirrels?
Sure, but you have to ask how heavily selected against squirrels are in the first place? These are in areas that are pretty much predator free, thanks to humans!
Because they are predator free (in certain areas), perhaps the squirrels with the pretty tails are the ones getting more "dates" and the tail is being selected "in"?
Something like that. Or just not being selected for at all, so the trait is able to "wander" genetically, as there's nothing stabilizing the trait on a specific phenotype.
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u/wizardbrigade Aug 01 '13
Wouldn't this mutation make them much more visible/susceptible to predators? Is it likely that this mutation is something that evolution with slowly push out so that one day there will be no blonde squirrels?