The Role of Resource Limitation in Driving the Principle of Survival of the Fittest: A Key Concept in Evolutionary Biology

The concept that resource limitation results in a pattern where more individuals are born than will ultimately survive was first popularized by:

The concept that resource limitation leads to a pattern where more individuals are born than will ultimately survive is known as the principle of “survival of the fittest”

The concept that resource limitation leads to a pattern where more individuals are born than will ultimately survive is known as the principle of “survival of the fittest”. This idea was first popularized by British biologist Charles Darwin in his book “On the Origin of Species”, published in 1859.

Darwin proposed that in any population, there is natural variation in traits among individuals. Some of these traits may provide a selective advantage, allowing certain individuals to better survive and reproduce in their environment. This then leads to the passing on of these advantageous traits to future generations.

Resource limitation plays a critical role in this scenario. It refers to the fact that resources, such as food, water, shelter, and mates, are typically limited in nature. As a result, a greater number of individuals are born than can be sustained by the available resources. This creates competition among individuals for these limited resources.

Through the process of natural selection, those individuals with traits that give them a better chance of obtaining the required resources have a higher probability of survival and reproduction compared to those without such advantageous traits. Over time, these advantageous traits become more common within the population, while individuals with less favorable traits have a lower chance of survival and reproduction. This leads to a gradual change in the traits of the population, as those that are better adapted to the environment are more likely to survive and pass on their traits to future generations.

In this way, resource limitation and the resulting competition for survival contribute to the pattern of more individuals being born than will ultimately survive. This principle is a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology and is widely accepted as a driving force behind the diversity and adaptation of life on Earth.

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