What is selective pressure?

Selective pressure is the environmental force that affects the survival and reproduction of individuals with specific traits. It can be natural, such as predation or competition for resources, or artificial, such as human-mediated selection in domesticated animals and plants.

Selective pressure drives evolution by favoring individuals with advantageous traits that increase their chances of survival and reproduction. These advantageous traits can be inherited by offspring, leading to a gradual change in the population over time as certain traits become more prevalent.

Examples of selective pressures include temperature, food availability, predator-prey interactions, disease, and habitat destruction. Different selective pressures can act simultaneously, shaping the genetic diversity of populations and contributing to adaptation and speciation.

Studies of selective pressures help scientists understand how organisms evolve and adapt to their environments, and can also provide insights into conservation efforts and the management of endangered species.