1. Natural Selection

2. Natural Selection
The unequal survival and reproduction that results from the presence or absence of particular traits

3. Natural Selection
Only those individuals that are well suited to their environment survive and produce offspring
unsuccessful individuals do not survive, or they
produce fewer offspring, and their less suitable
traits therefore disappear from the population

5. Natural Selection
The environment dictates the direction and amount of change

6. Natural Selection
English naturalist, Charles Darwin, observed in 1859 that organisms in a population differ slightly from each other in form, function, and behavior

7. Benefits to Natural Selection
Adds complexity to ecosystems

8. 5 Main Elements of Natural Selection
All species have genetic variation
2. The environment produces many challenges to an individual’s ability to reproduce
3. Organisms tend to produce more offspring than what the environment can support; therefore creating competition for survival

9. 5 Main Elements of Natural Selection
Individuals within a population that are better able to cope with environmental challenges tend to leave more offspring
5. The traits of the individuals best suited to a particular environment tend to increase in a population overtime

10. Natural Selection
As the populations of a given species change, so does the species

11. Natural Selection Vocabulary
Adaptation- an inherited trait that increases an organisms chance of survival and reproduction in a certain environment
Variation- differences within the same species
Evolution- the change in genetic characteristics of a population from one generation to the next

12. “Survival of the Fittest”
Those organisms best suited to their environment (adaptations) will survive to reproduce, passing on their genes with the adaptation(s) to their offspring.