33. Darwinian evolutionary fitness is measured in turn of
    (1) Good health
    (2) Ability to fight with others
    (3) Reproductive success
    (4) Lesser mutations

Introduction

When most people hear the word “fitness,” they think of strength, health, or the ability to survive. In evolutionary biology, however, Darwinian fitness means something very different. It’s not about who is the strongest or healthiest, but about who leaves the most descendants. The true measure of evolutionary success is reproductive success—the ability to pass genes on to the next generation.

What Is Darwinian Fitness?

Darwinian fitness, also known as evolutionary or biological fitness, refers to an organism’s relative reproductive success in passing its genes to the next generation’s gene pool. This concept, rooted in Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection, emphasizes that the most “fit” individuals are those whose genetic traits become more common in future generations.

Key Points:

• Reproductive Success: The number of offspring an individual produces who themselves survive and reproduce.

• Relative Measure: Fitness is always measured in comparison to others in the population.

• Gene Contribution: The focus is on how much an individual contributes to the gene pool of the next generation.

How Is Darwinian Fitness Measured?

Darwinian fitness is quantified by tracking the number of offspring an individual produces, and how many of those offspring survive and reproduce. In both asexual and sexual organisms, this can be measured by:

• Counting direct descendants.

• Observing changes in genotype frequencies across generations.

• Assessing age-specific fecundity and mortality rates.

Why Is Reproductive Success the Standard?

While good health, strength, or the ability to fight may help an organism survive, they only matter if they lead to more successful reproduction. Traits that do not contribute to reproductive success will not increase in frequency over generations, regardless of how beneficial they seem in the short term.

Darwinian Fitness vs. Other Concepts

Real-World Examples

• Peppered Moth: The fitness of light or dark moths depended on which color produced more surviving offspring in a given environment.

• Birds of Paradise: Males with more elaborate displays may attract more mates, increasing their reproductive success and thus their fitness.

Conclusion

Darwinian fitness is measured by reproductive success—the ability of an organism to pass its genes to the next generation. While health, strength, and other traits can contribute to fitness, they are only important insofar as they help an organism leave more descendants. In the end, evolution favors those who reproduce most successfully.

Correct answer:
(3) Reproductive success

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