It takes place over a relatively short period of time.
Is this natural selection or selective breeding?
To determine whether the given scenario is an example of natural selection or selective breeding, we need to understand the basic principles of both concepts.
Natural selection is a mechanism of evolution that occurs in the natural world. It involves the process by which certain heritable traits become more or less common in a population over time due to the differential survival and reproduction of individuals with those traits. In natural selection, the environmental factors and pressures determine which traits are advantageous and lead to an organism's increased fitness and reproductive success.
Selective breeding, on the other hand, is a human-driven process used to intentionally enhance or eliminate specific traits in a population of organisms. Also known as artificial selection, it occurs when humans choose certain individuals, either plants or animals, with desired traits to reproduce and produce offspring with those desired traits. Over generations, selective breeding can lead to significant changes in the characteristics of a population.
In the given scenario where something takes place over a relatively short period of time, it is more likely to be an example of selective breeding rather than natural selection. Selective breeding is a deliberate process that can result in rapid changes in traits, as humans actively choose which individuals to breed based on desired characteristics. Natural selection, on the other hand, usually operates over a longer period and is driven by environmental factors and survival advantages.
To further confirm your answer, it would be helpful to provide more specific details about the scenario in question.