What is Natural Selection?
Natural selection is a fundamental process in evolution that describes how organisms with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce in their environment thereby passing those traits to their offspring. This process acts as the external pressure on the species to evolve.
Natural selection acts on the principle of “survival of the fittest.” Here, individuals who are better adapted to their surroundings have a higher chance of passing on their genes to future generations. Over time, this process leads to the gradual accumulation of beneficial traits within a population, resulting in the adaptation of species to their specific habitats and ecological niches.
Also Read: What are Darwin’s four Postulates?
In other words, animals are adapted to their habitat. Over time, due to changes in the environment the conditions of that habitat change. Only those animals will survive and reproduce which are better able to adapt to the changing conditions. This process of natural selection ensures that the traits beneficial for survival become more common in a population over generations, while traits less suited to the environment decrease. As a result, species gradually evolve to better fit their ecological niche. This external pressure on the species is termed Natural Selection. If the species can survive in nature, then they will live. Otherwise, they have to go extinct from nature.
Also Read: Darwin Postulates
Natural Selection
Natural selection theory explains how traits that enhance an organism’s survival and reproduction become more common in a population over time. This theory explains the process of evolution. Understanding the types of natural selection and its mechanism helps in learning how various environmental pressures shape the evolution and adaptation of species over time. In this article, we will read about natural selection theory in detail.
Table of Content
- What is Natural Selection?
- Mechanism of Natural Selection
- Variation (V)
- Inheritance (I)
- Selection (S)
- Time (T)
- Adaptation (A)
- Types of Natural Selection
- Stabilizing Selection
- Directional Selection
- Disruptive Selection
- Examples of Natural Selection
- Eggs of Robin Bird
- White-Black Peppered Moth
- Himalayan Squirrel