Chapter 15, Problem 13STP

Summary Introduction

To explain:

The connection between excess reproduction and the concept of natural selection.

Introduction: Charles Darwin gave a theory of natural selection. He argued that if enough time is given, natural selection could modify a population to produce new species. There are four principles of this theory.

1. Individuals in a population show differences called variations.
2. Variations can be inherited; i.e they can be passed down from parent to offspring.
3. Organisms produce more offspring than can survive on available resources.
4. Variations that increase reproductive success will have a greater chance of being passed on than those that do not increase reproductive success.

Answer to Problem 13STP

Charles Darwin in his theory of natural selection said that an organism produces a large number of offspring but not all can survive. Only those that are better equipped for survival on the available resources would live and others would die. Variations that have reproductive advantages will have a greater chance of being passed on to future generations. So, excess reproduction and natural selection are connected.

Explanation of Solution

According to Darwin, organisms reproduce in excess because all the young ones do not survive. The resources available to them are limited and only those that are better equipped or fit enough to survive will adapt to the environment. He reasoned that some competitors in their struggle for existence would be better adapted for survival than others. These will pass on their traits to the next generation. Some variations allow the organism to have more offspring than the organism that does not possess them, i.e., they have reproductive advantages over others. Nature selects such organisms.

The concept of excess reproduction and natural selection are therefore connected.