Answer:
Step-by-step explanation:
Changing environmental conditions can cause certain traits to be favored through natural selection. This can lead to changes in the frequency of these traits within a population.
Natural selection is a mechanism of evolution that occurs when certain individuals in a population have traits that give them an advantage in their environment, increasing their chances of survival and reproduction. These advantageous traits are more likely to be passed on to future generations, while individuals with less favorable traits are less likely to reproduce.
For example, imagine a population of birds living in an environment where there is a limited food supply. Some birds may have longer beaks that allow them to reach food sources that are deep within flowers, while others may have shorter beaks that are less efficient at accessing food. In this scenario, the birds with longer beaks have a better chance of obtaining food and surviving, leading to increased reproduction and passing on their longer-beak trait to their offspring. Over time, the frequency of longer-beaked birds in the population will increase, as the shorter-beaked birds are at a disadvantage and less likely to survive and reproduce.
In summary, changing environmental conditions can lead to natural selection, which favors certain traits that provide advantages for survival and reproduction. This process can result in changes in the frequency of these traits within a population over time.