Final answer:
The term describing when individuals leave more offspring than others is natural selection, a foundational concept of evolutionary biology where traits that provide a survival advantage become more common in populations over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term that describes when individuals leave more offspring than other individuals is c) Natural selection. This process is fundamental to the theory of evolution, describing how certain traits become more common within a population over time. Natural selection occurs due to the variation of traits among individuals, competition for limited resources, and the fact that more offspring are produced than can survive. Individuals with traits that give them an advantage in their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, thus passing these favorable traits to the next generation.
Natural selection is also described as 'survival of the fittest,' referring to the fact that individuals with favorable traits that survive environmental challenges are the ones who reproduce more prolifically. These traits can be as varied as better camouflage, resistance to drought, or greater strength, as seen in the example with the silverback gorilla, which leads to a change in the population's genetic makeup over time.