Question

individuals that are better fit for their environment have a greater chance to survive and reproduce than those that are less fit

○ variation
○ natural selection
○ founder effect
○ geographic separation
○ frequency
○ evolution
○ population bottleneck

Explanation:

• variation: Refers to differences among individuals in a population, not about survival based on fitness. Eliminate.
• natural selection: The process where organisms better adapted (more fit) to their environment tend to survive and reproduce more, matching the statement.
• founder effect: Occurs when a small group starts a new population, not about environmental fitness for survival/reproduction. Eliminate.
• geographic separation: Involves physical separation of populations, not directly about fitness - based survival. Eliminate.
• frequency: Related to how often something occurs, not relevant to the described concept. Eliminate.
• evolution: A broader change in species over time; the statement describes a mechanism (natural selection) of evolution, not evolution itself. Eliminate.
• population bottleneck: A sharp reduction in population size, not about fitness - based survival. Eliminate.

Answer:

B. natural selection