Darwin's inference that individuals within a population compete for limited resources was based on which observation(s)?
A) Most organisms produce more than one or two offspring.
B) Populations do not increase in size indefinitely.
C) Food and other resources are limited for most populations.
D) Most organisms produce more than one or two offspring, and populations do not increase in size indefinitely.
E) Most organisms produce more than one or two offspring, populations do not increase in size indefinitely, and food and other resources are limited for most populations.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Darwin's inference about competition for limited resources within populations is based on the observations that most organisms produce more offspring than can survive (due to limited resources), populations do not grow indefinitely (indicating a limit to growth and survival), and the fact that resources such as food are limited, which necessitates competition among individuals. These factors together form the basis of natural selection, where only some offspring survive to reproduce, leading to evolution over time.

Darwin's Inference That Individuals Within a Population Compete for Limited