Changes in the ecosystem, like shifts in climate or the destruction of habitats, play a big role in how living things evolve.
Natural Selection: Some species can adapt to new surroundings. This means they can survive and have babies. For example, if there is a drought, birds that have beaks good for eating hard seeds might do well, while others might struggle to find food.
New Niches: When the environment changes, it can create new places for animals to live. For instance, if forests turn into grasslands, animals will need to learn to graze on grass instead of climbing trees.
Extinction Events: Big changes can also cause some species to go extinct. This means we lose many different kinds of living things. When that happens, it changes how the remaining species evolve over time.
In summary, these changes help decide which traits are important. They shape how life on Earth develops in the future.
Changes in the ecosystem, like shifts in climate or the destruction of habitats, play a big role in how living things evolve.
Natural Selection: Some species can adapt to new surroundings. This means they can survive and have babies. For example, if there is a drought, birds that have beaks good for eating hard seeds might do well, while others might struggle to find food.
New Niches: When the environment changes, it can create new places for animals to live. For instance, if forests turn into grasslands, animals will need to learn to graze on grass instead of climbing trees.
Extinction Events: Big changes can also cause some species to go extinct. This means we lose many different kinds of living things. When that happens, it changes how the remaining species evolve over time.
In summary, these changes help decide which traits are important. They shape how life on Earth develops in the future.