Question

What is natural selection? Describe how natural selection might have caused unequal reproduction among the ancestors of a fast-swimming predatory fish, such as the barracuda.

Short answer

Natural selection is the differential survival and reproduction of individuals in a population based on their inherited traits, leading to the evolution of new species over time. In the ancestral population of fast-swimming predatory fish like the barracuda, there would have been natural variations in swimming speed due to genetic differences. Faster-swimming fish would have better access to food resources and increased chances of survival, thus being more successful in reproducing and passing on their advantageous traits. Over many generations, this process would have resulted in the evolution of the barracuda, known for its remarkable speed and predatory prowess.

Step-by-step solution

Define Natural Selection

Natural selection is a fundamental process in evolution. It refers to the differential survival and reproduction of individuals in a population based on their inherited traits. In other words, organisms that inherit traits that better enable them to survive and reproduce in a given environment are more likely to pass on these advantageous traits to their offspring. Over time, this process causes adaptations to accumulate in a population, leading to the evolution of new species.

Describe the Ancestral Environment of the Barracuda

To understand how natural selection led to the evolution of the barracuda, we must first consider the environment where its ancestors lived. These ancestral fish were likely living in aquatic habitats with various other species, including potential prey and competitors. In this environment, the ability to quickly and effectively capture prey would have been a significant advantage in securing food resources.

Explain the Importance of Swimming Speed in Predatory Fish

In predatory fish, swimming speed plays a crucial role in successful hunting and capturing prey. Fast speed allows them to cover greater distances quickly, surprise their prey, and evade other predators or competitors. Therefore, ancestral fish that were faster swimmers would have had a better chance of surviving, successfully capturing prey, and reproducing.

Describe How Natural Selection Led to Unequal Reproduction

In the ancestral population of fish, there would have been natural variations in swimming speed due to genetic differences among individuals. Natural selection would favor those with increased speed since it would provide them with better access to food resources and increased chances of survival. Over time, those faster-swimming fish would be more successful in reproducing and passing on their advantageous traits (such as more efficient muscles or streamlined body shapes) to their offspring. Conversely, slower individuals would be less successful in finding food, have a higher risk of predation, and would be less likely to reproduce.

Explain the Resulting Evolution of the Barracuda

Over many generations, this process - in which faster individuals were more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to the spread of their advantageous traits through the population - would have resulted in the evolution of the barracuda. The barracuda, as a species, would have gradually evolved to become increasingly faster and more efficient in its predatory behavior, thanks to natural selection acting on these traits. This process eventually led to the development of the modern barracuda, which is known for its remarkable speed and predatory prowess.