The fossil record documents the gradual changes in species over time, illustrating transitional forms that exhibit characteristics of both ancestral and derived species, supporting the concept of descent with modification. It reveals patterns of adaptive radiations and extinctions, showing how certain traits have evolved in response to environmental changes and challenges. This continuity and variation in the fossil record aligns with the principles of natural selection, demonstrating how advantageous traits become more prevalent in populations over generations.
In three to sentences, explain how the fossil record provides evidence for the idea of natural selection.
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