Explain the concept of "natural selection" using your moths as an example.

Answer 1

Natural selection is a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology that describes how organisms that are best adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their advantageous traits to future generations. This process ultimately leads to changes in the traits of a population over time.

For example, let's consider a population of moths. Imagine that this population consists of both light and dark-colored moths, and they live in an environment where tree bark is the primary source of camouflage. In this scenario, the dark-colored moths are better camouflaged against the dark tree bark, while the light-colored moths are more easily spotted and eaten by predators.

As a result, the dark-colored moths are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on their dark coloration to their offspring. Over time, the population of moths will gradually shift towards a predominantly dark coloration as a result of natural selection favoring this advantageous trait.

This example demonstrates how natural selection operates to favor traits that provide a survival advantage in a particular environment, leading to evolutionary change within a population.