How does natural selection contribute to evolution?

Natural selection is a fundamental mechanism of evolution that operates on the premise that individuals with traits that are better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. This means that over time, these advantageous traits become more common in the population, as those individuals with favorable characteristics have greater success in passing their genes on to the next generation.

The process occurs in several stages: variation exists among individuals in a population, and some of these variations are heritable. When the environment exerts pressure (such as changes in climate, food availability, or predators), individuals with traits that improve their chances of survival and reproduction are "selected" over others. For example, a faster animal might escape predation better than a slower one, leading to a higher likelihood of reproducing and passing on that trait.

As this selection continues over numerous generations, the population evolves, with advantageous traits becoming prevalent. Therefore, the role of natural selection is pivotal in shaping the genetic makeup of a population, favoring the traits that contribute to its long-term fitness in a given environment.

This understanding is crucial; while factors like genetic variation do play a role in the overall evolutionary process and species population dynamics can change, the mechanism of natural selection specifically focuses on the success of