Why does the term survival of the fittest not properly describe natural selection?

Explanation: Natural selection refers to the process by which organisms evolve. There are selective pressures in their environment that affect reproductive success. Fitness affects the survival of alleles and genetic material, but not the survival of the organism.

What is the nature of a predator/prey relationship?

Predator-prey relations refer to the interactions between two species where one species is the hunted food source for the other. The organism that feeds is called the predator and the organism that is fed upon is the prey. There are literally hundreds of examples of predator-prey relations.

Why do prey need predators to survive?

Predators are an important part of a healthy ecosystem. Predators remove vulnerable prey, such as the old, injured, sick, or very young, leaving more food for the survival and success of healthy prey animals. Also, by controlling the size of prey populations, predators help slow down the spread of disease.

What does the word fittest mean in survival of the fittest?

survival of the fittest, term made famous in the fifth edition (published in 1869) of On the Origin of Species by British naturalist Charles Darwin, which suggested that organisms best adjusted to their environment are the most successful in surviving and reproducing.

Which of the following is not an example of prey predator relationship *?

Bacteria decompose the organic matter which is not really living. Hence, it cannot be considered as a prey predator relationship.

Why are predator/prey relationships important to ecosystems?

“When prey are high, predators increase and reduce the number of prey by predation. When predators are low, prey decrease and thus reduce the number of predators by starvation. These predator/prey relationships thereby promote stability in ecosystems and enable them to maintain large numbers of species,” says Allesina.

How do animals avoid becoming prey?

Avoiding Predators Encounters are most easily avoided by preventing predators from detecting prey in the first instance. The term camouflage usually conjures up images of physical characteristics such as coloration; however, animals can also use behavior to disguise themselves and avoid detection by predators.

What happens if there are no predators?

With no predators to control the population and alter feeding behavior, the prey species quickly degrade and over-run its habitat. As food becomes scarce, the population becomes sick and malnourished, and will either move or crash.