According to the principle of natural selection, what mechanism explains the prevalence of dark fur in a population of mice living in a heavily forested area?

• A. Mice consciously choose to have darker fur to blend in with the forest floor.
• B. Dark fur is more resistant to diseases common in forest environments.
• C. Mice with dark fur are less likely to be seen by predators, increasing their chances of survival and reproduction.
• D. The forest environment causes mutations for dark fur in mice.

Answer: (C)