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Related Concept Videos

What is Natural Selection?01:32

What is Natural Selection?

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Natural selection is an evolutionary process in which individuals with survival-promoting traits reproduce at higher rates. These favorable traits become more common within a population or species. Naturally selected traits initially arise via random genetic mutations. In order for selection to occur, there must be variation within a population, the trait controlling the variation must be heritable, and there must be an evolutionary advantage for variation in the trait.
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Limits to Natural Selection01:38

Limits to Natural Selection

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Organisms that are well-adapted to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce. However, natural selection does not lead to perfectly adapted organisms. Several factors constrain natural selection.
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Genetic Drift03:33

Genetic Drift

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Natural selection—probably the most well-known evolutionary mechanism—increases the prevalence of traits that enhance survival and reproduction. However, evolution does not merely propagate favorable traits, nor does it always benefit populations.
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Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift01:09

Mutation, Gene Flow, and Genetic Drift

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In a population that is not at Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, the frequency of alleles changes over time. Therefore, any deviations from the five conditions of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium can alter the genetic variation of a given population. Conditions that change the genetic variability of a population include mutations, natural selection, non-random mating, gene flow, and genetic drift (small population size).
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Types of Selection01:46

Types of Selection

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Natural selection influences the frequencies of particular alleles and phenotypes within populations in several different ways. Primarily, natural selection can be directional, stabilizing, or disruptive. Directional selection favors one extreme trait and shifts the population towards that phenotype while selecting against individuals displaying alternate traits. Stabilizing selection favors an intermediate trait with a narrow range of variation. Deviation from the optimal phenotype towards an...
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Natural Selection and Adaptation01:15

Natural Selection and Adaptation

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Natural selection, a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology, is the mechanism by which evolution is driven, favoring organisms that are best adapted to their environments. This process enhances their chances of survival and reproduction. Adaptation, a key outcome of this process, involves genetic modifications that optimize an organism's functionality under specific environmental challenges, such as extreme cold or thinner air at high altitudes.
Beyond physical adaptations,...
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Updated: Dec 25, 2025

Daily Transfers, Archiving Populations, and Measuring Fitness in the Long-Term Evolution Experiment with Escherichia coli
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Ecological and Evolutionary Stochasticity Shape Natural Selection.

Denon Start, Arthur E Weis, Benjamin Gilbert

    The American Naturalist
    |March 29, 2020
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    Stochastic ecological and evolutionary processes influence biodiversity patterns. Random variation in traits and interactions, especially in smaller habitats, creates predictable yet variable natural selection.

    Keywords:
    Eurosta solidaginiseco-evofood webparasitoidtrophic interactions

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    Area of Science:

    • Ecology
    • Evolutionary Biology
    • Biodiversity Science

    Background:

    • Biodiversity patterns arise from complex ecological and evolutionary interactions.
    • Research has primarily focused on deterministic factors, overlooking the role of stochasticity.
    • Random ecological processes are hypothesized to amplify random evolutionary processes.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate how manipulating habitat size influences ecological and evolutionary processes.
    • To examine the role of correlated sampling effects in structuring communities and selection.
    • To understand the impact of stochasticity on the patterns of natural selection.

    Main Methods:

    • Experimental manipulation of old field fragment sizes.
    • Assessment of trait variability in a focal gall maker population.
    • Analysis of enemy community composition and its interaction with focal traits.

    Main Results:

    • Smaller habitat patches exhibited greater trait and community variability.
    • Enemy preference for specific trait values amplified community differences due to random trait variation.
    • Stochastic processes generated predictable but highly variable natural selection patterns.

    Conclusions:

    • Stochasticity significantly impacts ecological and evolutionary dynamics.
    • Habitat fragmentation can exacerbate the effects of random processes on selection.
    • Understanding these stochastic effects is crucial for predicting biodiversity patterns at multiple scales.