IB ESS HL 3.1.4 Natural Selection Question Bank

Outline the role of natural selection in increasing the diversity of species.
natural selection (resulting from changing environment) acts on existing genetic variation (that has arisen through mutations over the eons); natural selection increases the survival of fittest genetic variations/traits; these traits are heritable/passed onto offspring / selected individuals will have higher reproduction potential / so species will adapt to different environments; the proportion of these traits may increase in some populations/in subsequent generations; which can lead to speciation/increasing species diversity if there is reproductive isolation;