Malthus pointed out that populations have the potential to increase geometrically. What did this observation suggest that contributed to the idea of natural selection?
A)Populations may grow faster than their resources.
B)Populations may grow quickly and spread out over the planet.
C)Populations may grow faster than other competing populations.
D)Populations grow quickly, but predators grow more quickly.
E)Populations may grow quickly, and then will evolve more quickly.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Malthus observed that populations have the potential to increase geometrically, meaning they can grow exponentially over time. This observation suggested that populations may grow faster than their resources, which can lead to competition for limited resources. This idea of limited resources and competition contributed to the concept of natural selection, where individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce in a competitive environment.

Malthus Pointed Out That Populations Have the Potential to Increase