Náttúruvals

Náttúruvals is an Icelandic term that translates to "natural selection." It refers to the process where organisms with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those advantageous traits to their offspring. This gradual process, central to Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, explains the diversity of life on Earth.

In náttúruvals, environmental pressures act as a filter. Factors such as availability of food, presence of predators, climate, and competition all play a role. Individuals within a population exhibit variation in their traits. Some of these variations might provide a survival or reproductive advantage in a particular environment. For instance, a bird with a beak shape better suited to cracking local seeds will be more successful at finding food and thus more likely to survive and reproduce than birds with less suitable beaks.

Over generations, the frequency of these advantageous traits increases within the population. Conversely, traits that are disadvantageous tend to become less common as individuals possessing them are less likely to survive and reproduce. This differential survival and reproduction is the essence of náttúruvals. It is not a conscious process but rather a consequence of the interaction between organisms and their surroundings. The outcome of náttúruvals is adaptation, where populations become increasingly well-suited to their specific ecological niches.