The Adaptive Landscape

An adaptive landscape is a visual way to understand how populations evolve over time. Imagine a hilly terrain where each point represents different genetic combinations of a population, and the height indicates how well those combinations fit the environment (fitness). Moving uphill signifies improving fitness, while downhill means decreasing fitness. Populations tend to evolve towards the highest peaks—optimal adaptations—though they can also get 'stuck' on local peaks. This concept helps illustrate the paths and challenges populations face as they adapt to their surroundings over generations.