Describe an example of how natural selection influence the evolution of a particular species.

Certainly! Let's take the example of the peppered moth (Biston betularia) to understand how natural selection influences the evolution of a species.

The peppered moth is typically light-gray in color, with speckles of black. Prior to the industrial revolution in England, these moths were well camouflaged against tree trunks covered in lichens and mosses.

However, during the industrial revolution, pollution resulted in widespread black soot covering trees. This change in the environment provided an advantage to darker-colored individuals of peppered moths, as they were better able to blend in and avoid predation by birds.

Here's how natural selection influenced the evolution of peppered moths in this example:

1. Variation: The population of peppered moths had natural variation in coloration, including both light-gray and darker individuals.

2. Selection pressure: The change in tree color due to pollution created a new selection pressure. Birds were more likely to spot light-colored moths against the darkened trees, making them more vulnerable to predation.

3. Differential survival and reproduction: In this altered environment, dark-colored moths had a higher survival rate since they were better camouflaged against the soot-covered trees. As a result, they had a higher probability of reproducing and passing on their darker coloration genes to the next generation.

4. Gene frequency change: Over time, the proportion of dark-colored moths increased within the population, while the proportion of light-colored moths decreased. This shift in gene frequencies is the result of natural selection favoring traits that increase survival and reproductive success in a specific environment.

This example demonstrates how natural selection acts on heritable variations within a population, leading to the evolution of traits that are better suited to surviving in an ever-changing environment.