Final answer:
Protection of stored folate is the reproductive benefit from reduced UV absorption that might drive natural selection for dark skin, as folate is vital for DNA synthesis and repair, important for reproductive health.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question you're asking pertains to the reproductive benefit that might be favored by natural selection for the presence of dark skin in populations living in areas with high UV radiation exposure. The reproductive benefit that could result from the reduced absorption of UV radiation is D. Protection of stored folate. Folate is a crucial nutrient for reproductive health as it is important for DNA synthesis, repair, and methylation. High UV exposure can degrade folate, which can result in increased risks of birth defects such as neural tube defects. Dark skin, with its higher melanin content, absorbs and blocks UV radiation more effectively, protecting the body's folate reserves. This protective mechanism would therefore confer a reproductive advantage and could drive natural selection in favor of darker skin pigmentation in high-UV environments.