Final answer:
With the decrease of natural selection's benefits later in life, the significance of culture grows as it helps transfer knowledge and skills to younger generations, ensuring the survival of the species.
Step-by-step explanation:
As the benefits of natural selection decrease later in life, the need for culture increases. Natural selection leads to the evolution of certain traits that increase an individual's likelihood of survival and reproduction. Examples of such traits include better running speed, which helps in evading predators or catching prey. However, as individuals age, their direct contribution to the gene pool through reproduction often diminishes, thus lessening the impact of natural selection. At this point, the intraspecies transfer of knowledge, customs, and social behavior - essentially, culture - becomes increasingly important. Culture can aid in the survival of the species by teaching younger generations vital skills and knowledge that allow the community to thrive even when the strength of natural selection's direct influence wanes.