Final answer:
In Darwin's concept of natural selection, the scenario of lions hunting antelopes is described by 'survival of the fittest.' This principle explains how individuals with traits that provide a survival advantage are more likely to reproduce and pass those traits on.
Step-by-step explanation:
The situation where lions prey on a herd of antelopes, resulting in some antelopes being killed and others escaping, illustrates the principle of survival of the fittest within Charles Darwin's concept of natural selection. Survival of the fittest is a key component of natural selection and refers to the idea that individuals with traits best suited to their environment are more likely to survive, reproduce, and pass those adaptive traits to their offspring. The antelopes that escape have characteristics, possibly speed or agility, which confer a survival advantage over those that are caught and killed, thus enhancing their chances of reproducing and contributing to the gene pool.
Natural selection operates when there is variation among individuals in a population and these variations affect the individuals' ability to survive and reproduce. Darwin argued that natural selection leads to adaptive evolution, with favorable traits becoming more common within the population over time. An antelope's ability to evade predators would be an example of a trait selected for through this process, likely resulting in a population of antelope with better survival characteristics.