The Adaptationist Paradigm

The Adaptationist Paradigm is an approach in evolutionary biology that interprets features of organisms—like physical traits or behaviors—as adaptations shaped by natural selection. It suggests that these characteristics evolved because they helped individuals survive and reproduce in their environments. For instance, the long neck of a giraffe is often seen as an adaptation to reach high leaves. While sometimes criticized for oversimplifying evolution, this paradigm focuses on how organisms fit into their ecological niches and the advantages their traits provide in terms of survival and reproduction.