Which of the following statements best captures the essence of natural selection?

Natural selection is a key mechanism of evolution, and it fundamentally relies on the idea that environmental factors play a crucial role in determining which individuals survive and reproduce. The essence of natural selection lies in the concept that organisms with traits better suited to their environments are more likely to survive and pass those beneficial traits on to their offspring.

This process is influenced by various environmental factors, such as availability of resources, predation pressures, and climatic conditions. These factors create a backdrop against which certain traits provide advantages, making individuals with those traits more likely to thrive and reproduce than others less well adapted.

For instance, a population of rabbits may have varying fur colors. In a forest with dark soil and many dark rocks, darker-furred rabbits might be less visible to predators, leading to higher survival rates compared to lighter-colored rabbits. Over time, the population may shift to primarily darker fur due to the success of these individuals in surviving and reproducing in that environment.

In contrast, the other statements do not capture the essence of natural selection accurately. Not all traits are beneficial for survival; many traits can be neutral or even disadvantageous depending on the environment. Additionally, natural selection involves both physical and behavioral traits, so it is not limited to just physical traits. Lastly,