Final answer:
Taste aversion learning is an example of associative learning, which is a survival mechanism that helps organisms avoid harmful substances through natural selection.
Step-by-step explanation:
Selection for taste aversion learning is an example of associative learning. This type of learning involves creating a link between two stimuli, leading an organism to anticipate events. It is a well-documented survival mechanism across various species, notably detailed in studies by Garcia and Koelling (1966), that shows how organisms, such as rats, could learn to avoid a particular taste if it is associated with an adverse outcome, like illness. This has evolutionary advantages as it aids in avoiding harmful or poisonous substances. Associative learning is vital in species survival and is influenced through natural selection.