Do Adaptations Always Benefit the Individual, Group, Population, or Species

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The Answer is To answer this question, students need to understand the level at which natural selection operates. Because natural selection acts on the individual, it is the individual's reproductive success that is affected in a positive manner. What is beneficial to an individual is not necessarily beneficial to the group, population, or species. This is especially true because each individual is competing against other members of the group, population, or species for access to resources. As such, some individuals in a group may experience reduced reproductive success. The main example presented in the chapter is high-fecundity females. These females experience increased reproductive success but inflate the size of their population to the point that it exceeds the carrying capacity.

Do Adaptations Always Benefit the Individual, Group, Population, or Species

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