What concept is illustrated by Darwin's theory of natural selection?

Darwin's theory of natural selection is fundamentally rooted in the concept of "survival of the fittest," which describes how certain traits become more common in a population because they offer a reproductive advantage under specific environmental conditions. This principle posits that individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, thus passing those traits on to future generations. Over time, this leads to the adaptation of organisms as they evolve to better fit their environments.

In this context, the phrase "survival of the fittest" emphasizes not just the mere survival of the strongest individuals but rather the survival of those best suited to their environment, which may include factors like better camouflage, increased speed, or more effective reproductive strategies. This dynamic is a key driving force behind evolution and explains the diversity of life on Earth as species adapt over time in response to environmental pressures.

The other concepts, while related to evolutionary biology, do not directly reflect Darwin's specific mechanism of natural selection. For example, genetic drift refers to random changes in allele frequencies in a population, often affecting smaller populations. Homeostasis deals with the maintenance of internal stability within an organism, and population equilibrium describes a stable state in which populations remain relatively constant in size unless acted upon by external forces. Thus,