In the context of natural selection, what term describes how well an organism can survive and reproduce in its environment?

• A. Adaptation
• B. Mutation
• C. Fitness
• D. Speciation

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of natural selection: Natural selection is the process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. This is a key mechanism of evolution.
2. Define the term 'fitness': In biology, fitness refers to an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment. It is a measure of how well an organism's traits enable it to succeed in passing on its genes to the next generation.
3. Differentiate fitness from other terms: Adaptation refers to a trait that increases an organism's fitness, mutation is a change in DNA that can lead to new traits, and speciation is the formation of new species. Fitness specifically measures survival and reproductive success.
4. Relate fitness to natural selection: Organisms with higher fitness are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on advantageous traits to their offspring. Over time, this leads to the prevalence of traits that enhance survival and reproduction.
5. Conclude why 'fitness' is the correct term: Among the options provided, 'fitness' directly describes the ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment, which aligns with the concept of natural selection.