How can the process of natural selection contribute to evolution?

Natural selection is a fundamental mechanism of evolution, and it significantly contributes to the adaptation of organisms within their environment. The process occurs when individuals with traits that give them a survival advantage are more likely to reproduce and pass on those advantageous traits to their offspring.

In this way, natural selection promotes the survival of organisms that are best suited to their environments. For example, in a habitat where food sources are scarce, animals with traits that allow them to find or consume food more effectively will survive longer and have more offspring. Over generations, these advantageous traits become more common in the population, leading to gradual changes in the species—this is a key aspect of how evolution operates.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the principles of natural selection. Rapid change in all traits does not align with how traits are selectively favored based on their usefulness in a given environment. Additionally, the idea of preventing adaptation contradicts the very nature of natural selection, which is about promoting adaptation. Finally, ensuring organisms do not reproduce goes against the concept of survival of the fittest, where those better adapted are the ones that reproduce the most. Thus, the correct answer highlights the critical role of natural selection in enhancing the survival of species through advantageous adaptations.