Darwin's Theory of Natural Selection

1. The number of prey decreases whilst the number of predators remains

constant however, there might be an increase in the population of the

fittest predator even though the total number would not change. In

addition to that each predator has different capabilities and those

capabilities allow them to survive much better than the other

predators, for example the hands were the fittest because they were

equipped with the best tools for gathering food, whilst the clothes

pegs were the least effective.

2. Predators are predators because they are physically more fit or

advantaged than those on who they prey. The predator’s phenotypes

allow them to survive much better than the prey because they can

overpower the prey. However the preys also have their own phenotypic

capabilities which enable them to survive by feeding on other

organisms, where they become predators momentarily.

3. The variety of predators creates very tough competition amongst the

predators in similar regions, and thus the theory of survival of the

fittest, the most efficient predator at ‘hunting’ has a better chance

of survival. The forks and pegs definitely would have had a much

better chance of survival and a longer lifespan, had the hands not

been there; however, the forks would have eventually dominated over

the pegs because, as the data shows, the forks were still better

predators than the pegs.

4. Both predators and preys could become extinct. We could see the

gradual decrease in the numbers of prey and certain predators for

example the pegs were declining because they simply could not compete

as well as the hands or forks at collecting food, and the prey were

also declining because they had no way of protecting themselves. Due

to the increase in the number of hands, it was then possible for them

to collect more and more food, were as before they had less of their

species and could not collect as much, however now the number of prey

will decrease at a faster rate and so with an increasing number of