Question

Which animal trait was Darwin’s theory of natural selection based on?

Answer 1

Darwin's theory of natural selection is based on the inheritance of varied traits that provide a survival advantage in the competition for limited resources, leading to evolutionary change over generations.

Step-by-step explanation:

Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection is based on the trait of variation among individuals within a population. Darwin observed that individuals with beneficial traits are more likely to survive environmental challenges, reproduce, and pass those traits on to their offspring, leading to evolutionary change over time. This process was evident in his observations on the Galápagos Islands during his voyage on the HMS Beagle. Alfred Russel Wallace independently observed similar patterns, and together their ideas formed the fundamental concept of natural selection.

Darwin argued that natural selection is the consequence of three key principles: inheritance of traits, overproduction of offspring, and competition for limited resources. Variations that provide an advantage in this competition are more likely to be passed on to the next generation. Over time, this descent with modification results in populations that are well-adapted to their local environments, as described in Darwin's 'On the Origin of Species'.

Answer 2

Coloration, Darwin theorized dominant colors in animals would continue to help ensure survival. For example a white tail deer normally blends in with the trees and bushes they live in, but if they were white they would stand out and be easier to hunt, causing them to die off