Natural selection and evolution play a crucial role in shaping biodiversity by driving changes in populations over time. Through natural selection, individuals with advantageous traits that help them survive and reproduce in their environment are more likely to pass on their genes to the next generation. Over time, this process leads to the accumulation of beneficial traits in a population, resulting in adaptations that enhance the species' fitness.
As a result, different species evolve unique characteristics that allow them to thrive in specific habitats, leading to the diverse range of organisms we see in ecosystems. Evolutionary processes such as speciation further contribute to biodiversity by creating new species that occupy different ecological niches. Ultimately, natural selection and evolution interact to shape the rich variety of life forms on Earth and contribute to the complexity and interconnectivity of ecosystems.