Evolutionary Mechanism: Natural Selection

What triggers natural selection to occur?

Answer:

B. When a population reaches carrying capacity

Natural selection is an evolutionary mechanism where environment-adapted organisms have a higher chance of surviving and passing on the genes that contributed to their success. This process occurs when a population reaches its carrying capacity, leading to competition for limited resources, ultimately resulting in the fittest individuals surviving and passing down their advantageous traits.

Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace are credited with the idea of evolution by natural selection, which explains the diversity of species on Earth. When a population reaches carrying capacity, natural selection becomes a driving force in determining which individuals will thrive and reproduce.

By understanding natural selection, we gain insights into how species adapt to their environments and evolve over time. It highlights the importance of genetic variation and the role it plays in the survival and success of species in the natural world.