Natural selection operates at

Options

A. Organismal level
B. Population level
C. Community level
D. Ecosystem level

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Natural Selection**: Natural selection is a process where organisms that are better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring. This concept is fundamental in evolutionary biology.

2. **Identifying Levels of Biological Organization**: The question asks at which level natural selection operates. The levels of biological organization include:
- Organism level
- Population level
- Community level
- Ecosystem level

3. **Focusing on the Population Level**: Natural selection primarily acts on the population level. A population consists of individuals of the same species living in a specific area. The traits that enhance survival and reproduction are selected within this group.

4. **Survival of the Fittest**: The phrase "survival of the fittest" refers to the idea that individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce. This selection process occurs within populations, where the fittest individuals pass on their genes to the next generation.

5. **Conclusion**: Based on the understanding of natural selection and its mechanisms, we conclude that natural selection operates at the population level, as it is within populations that the genetic variations are acted upon by environmental pressures.

**Final Answer**: Natural selection operates at the population level.

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