Answer:
Darwin's theory of natural selection explains how species evolve over time in response to changes in their environment. The evolution of the horse provides a good example of how these concepts work. Here are the five concepts of natural selection and how they apply to the evolution of the horse:
Variation: Natural variation exists within populations of horses, with some horses being taller, smaller, faster, or stronger than others.
Inheritance: These variations are passed on from one generation to the next through genetic inheritance. Horses with desirable traits are more likely to pass those traits on to their offspring.
Differential Survival: In any population, there is a struggle for survival, with some individuals being better adapted to their environment than others. For example, horses that can run faster or digest tougher grasses are more likely to survive and reproduce.
Reproduction: The horses that survive and reproduce pass on their advantageous traits to their offspring, increasing the frequency of those traits in the population over time.
Time: Over many generations, natural selection can result in significant changes in the population, leading to the evolution of new species. In the case of the horse, the gradual changes in hoof shape, tooth structure, and size over millions of years have led to the development of modern horses, zebras, and donkeys.
In summary, the five concepts of natural selection help explain how the evolution of the horse occurred over millions of years, resulting in the development of the modern equine species we see today.