Final answer:
Traits or behaviors that benefit the species but harm the individual are typically not favored by natural selection because natural selection prioritizes traits that increase individual fitness for survival and reproduction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks why traits or behaviors that benefit the species but reduce an individual's fitness would not be favored by natural selection. The correct answer is that natural selection acts at the level of the individual, not at the level of the species or for the 'good of the species.' Natural selection favors traits that increase an individual's own evolutionary fitness, meaning its ability to survive and reproduce. A trait that helps the species but harms an individual's chances of surviving and reproducing is less likely to be passed on to the next generation. Thus, traits that reduce an individual's fitness, even if they might seem beneficial for the species, are typically not favored by natural selection.
It's important to remember that evolution often works through the differential survival and reproduction of individuals that are most suited to their environment. Any trait that compromises an individual's ability to successfully reproduce can decrease the prevalence of that trait in a population over time, regardless of whether it benefits the species as a whole.