Darwin's development of natural selection was influenced by the writings of the economist Thomas Malthus, who noted thatGroup of answer choices

To properly address your question, it appears that you are seeking an understanding of the influence of Thomas Malthus on Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection. Here’s a detailed explanation:

Influence of Thomas Malthus on Darwin

1. Malthus’s Observations: In his 1798 essay "An Essay on the Principle of Population," Thomas Malthus posited that populations grow exponentially while resources grow arithmetically, leading to inevitable competition for limited resources. This idea emphasized the struggle for survival, where too many individuals compete for insufficient resources.

2. Connection to Natural Selection: Darwin, who was acquainted with Malthus’s ideas, realized that in nature, similar competition occurs among species. This led him to formulate his theory of natural selection, where individuals with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.

3. Application of Malthus’s Principle: Through Malthus’s lens, Darwin understood that not all offspring could survive. This concept of struggle and survival underpinned the mechanism of natural selection, where advantageous traits become more common in successive generations.

Summary

Malthus's insights into population growth and resource competition were pivotal in shaping Darwin's understanding of natural selection. By recognizing the consequences of overpopulation, Darwin could articulate how environmental pressures contribute to the evolution of species, laying the groundwork for modern evolutionary biology.

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