A male cardinal’s red color is an example of a trait affected by natural selection. The females of the species choose mates based on the vibrant colors of the males’ feathers. If females begin using different criteria than feather color when they choose mates, what would most likely happen to the color of the male cardinals over time? increased variation in the shades of red because there is no advantage in one specific color increased variation in the shades of red because the cardinals try different ways to impress the females decreased variation in the shades of red over time because no form of the trait is advantageous decreased variation in the shades of red after a single generation