Species evolve in response to environmental pressures from "summary" of The Structure of Evolutionary Theory by Stephen Jay Gould
The central tenet of evolutionary theory holds that species change over time in response to environmental pressures. This concept lies at the heart of our understanding of the natural world and forms the basis for all biological research. The idea that organisms adapt to their surroundings is not a new one, but it was Charles Darwin who first proposed a comprehensive theory to explain this process. Darwin's theory of natural selection posits that individuals within a population vary in their traits, and those traits that are better suited to the environment will be passed on to future generations. This process, known as "survival of the fittest," results in the gradual accumulation of beneficial traits within a population over time. As a result, species evolve to better fit their ecological niche, leading to the diversity of life we see today. The key to understa...
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