According to the theory of natural selection, why are some individuals more likely to survive and reproduce?

The theory of natural selection posits that individuals with traits that are better suited to their environment have a higher likelihood of survival and reproduction. This occurs because these advantageous adaptations increase an organism's fitness, allowing them not only to survive but also to thrive in their specific habitat. For example, a species of bird with beak shapes that allow for more efficient feeding on available food sources would likely flourish compared to those with less effective beak shapes.

The successful adaptations can include physical traits, behaviors, or physiological processes that enhance the individual's ability to find food, avoid predators, and cope with environmental challenges. As these individuals reproduce, they pass on their beneficial traits to their offspring, perpetuating those characteristics within the population over generations. This process leads to a gradual evolution of the species, as successful adaptations thrive while less favorable traits may diminish.

The incorrect options suggest other factors that, while possibly relevant in certain contexts, do not encompass the core principle of natural selection as effectively. For instance, having the same adaptations as others does not confer any additional advantage or increase the likelihood of survival. Similarly, reproducing faster may not directly relate to success in a competitive environment if the offspring are not well adapted. Enhanced genetic variation can be beneficial to a population, but it