Final answer:
The statement illustrates 'Differential Survival and Reproduction,' a key element of natural selection where only some individuals survive to adulthood due to advantageous genetic variations, contributing to the adaptive evolution of species.
Step-by-step explanation:
The factor in the process of natural selection that the statement illustrates is c) Differential Survival and Reproduction. This is because in the given example, although a number of chicks are born, only a few survive to adulthood, indicating that certain traits may have favored the survival and reproduction of those few individuals. In the context of natural selection, differential survival and reproduction are critical as they determine which individuals are able to pass their genetic information on to the next generation, leading to the potential for evolutionary change over time.
These principles, originally recognized by Charles Darwin, reflect the concept of 'survival of the fittest,' where 'fitness' refers to an organism's relative ability to survive and reproduce in its environment. The kingrails that survived to adulthood likely possessed some advantageous genetic variations that provided them with a better adaptation to their environment, such as being better at avoiding predators or acquiring food, hence ensuring their survival and ability to reproduce. Over many generations, these advantageous traits become more common within the population, leading to adaptive evolution.