In regard to natural selection, 'fitness' is best characterized by:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Fitness is defined as the ability of an organism to survive and reproduce in its environment. Therefore, having more offspring that survive until they are old enough to reproduce themselves is the best indicator of fitness. Options A, B, and C may contribute to higher fitness, but they alone do not fully capture the concept of fitness in natural selection. Option D is partly correct, but it implies that new environmental pressures are necessary for fitness, while in reality, fitness is an ongoing process of adaptation to existing environmental pressures.

In Regard to Natural Selection, 'Fitness' Is Best Characterized By