Anolis lizards (Anolis scriptus) living on Caribbean islands typically inhabit trees and shrubs.
Average hind limb length in these lizard populations has been monitored by evolutionary biologists.
Having longer hind limbs is an advantage in normal, calm conditions where lizards must run quickly along the ground to capture prey and escape predators.
However, during high-velocity hurricanes, having longer hind limbs is a disadvantage, as longer-limbed lizards are less able to maintain a tight grip on branches.
Explain these two observations.
Following a decade with an unusually high frequency of severe hurricanes, scientists measured a significant decrease in the average hind limb length of the surviving lizard population.
Explain how this change in the average hind limb length of the population occurred. Use ideas about natural selection.