Environmental changes are very important in how natural selection works. They change the conditions where living things exist. When the environment changes, some traits become better for survival than others. This affects which individuals live longer and have babies.
Climate Change: Take the Peppered Moth, for example. Before the Industrial Revolution, lighter-colored moths were easy to see on the light trees. But then, pollution made the trees darker. This meant the dark-colored moths were harder for predators to find. Because of this, dark moths survived better and their numbers grew.
Habitat Destruction: When habitats are destroyed, like when forests are cut down, it can hurt species. For instance, when forests were cleared, some animals found ways to adapt or move to survive. Animals with traits that helped them adjust to new places did well.
Changes in Food Supply: During a drought, plants with deep roots can survive better. This means that animals that eat these plants may also need to develop traits to reach them. This shows how different species can evolve together.
In simple terms, when the environment changes, it influences natural selection. It helps certain traits stand out more in a population, which leads to the evolution of species over time. These interactions create a fascinating picture of life that shows how natural selection happens every day!
Environmental changes are very important in how natural selection works. They change the conditions where living things exist. When the environment changes, some traits become better for survival than others. This affects which individuals live longer and have babies.
Climate Change: Take the Peppered Moth, for example. Before the Industrial Revolution, lighter-colored moths were easy to see on the light trees. But then, pollution made the trees darker. This meant the dark-colored moths were harder for predators to find. Because of this, dark moths survived better and their numbers grew.
Habitat Destruction: When habitats are destroyed, like when forests are cut down, it can hurt species. For instance, when forests were cleared, some animals found ways to adapt or move to survive. Animals with traits that helped them adjust to new places did well.
Changes in Food Supply: During a drought, plants with deep roots can survive better. This means that animals that eat these plants may also need to develop traits to reach them. This shows how different species can evolve together.
In simple terms, when the environment changes, it influences natural selection. It helps certain traits stand out more in a population, which leads to the evolution of species over time. These interactions create a fascinating picture of life that shows how natural selection happens every day!