The concept that the evolution of species depends on the survival of organisms best adapted to their environment is known as?

Natural selection is the process that drives the evolution of species by favoring individuals who are best adapted to their environment. This concept, first widely articulated by Charles Darwin, illustrates that organisms with traits better suited to their habitat are more likely to survive, reproduce, and pass on those advantageous traits to their offspring. Over generations, this can lead to a population becoming increasingly adapted to their environment, resulting in evolutionary changes.

In natural selection, environmental pressures influence which traits are advantageous. For example, in a habitat where food resources are scarce, individuals with traits that enhance their foraging ability are more likely to survive and reproduce. This accumulation of beneficial traits can lead to significant changes in a species over time.

The other choices refer to different concepts: artificial selection involves human intervention in breeding practices; speciation is the process through which new species arise; and mutation refers to genetic changes that can introduce new traits but do not inherently lead to survival advantages without the selective pressures of natural selection. Understanding natural selection as a mechanism is fundamental to the study of evolution and the adaptation of organisms to their environments.