Evolutionary suicide

Evolutionary suicide is when animals or plants that are well adapted to their environment start making choices that harm them so much that they die out as a species. This happens when they prioritize individual benefits over the good of the whole group, causing their population to decline.

Let's take an example of a bird species that lives in a forest where they lay their eggs in small nests that hang from the branches of the trees. Normally, the female lays one egg in a nest, then she and the male take turns incubating the egg and feeding the chick until it can fly and fend for itself.

But imagine one day, a female bird decides to lay two eggs in a single nest, thinking that it will increase her chances of having more offspring. However, this means that both eggs are not evenly heated and there's a good chance that one of the chicks won't survive. If this becomes a common behavior in the population, then there will be fewer and fewer chicks surviving each year, leading to the decline and eventual extinction of the species.

Another example is the overuse of natural resources. Imagine a population of beavers inhabiting a river that they use to build their dams and homes. If they start overexploiting the river by cutting down too many trees, then the river's water level will drop, making it difficult for the beavers to swim and find food. They may be able to get food in the short run, but in the long term, there won't be enough resources to sustain their population, leading to their demise.

In conclusion, evolutionary suicide occurs when species prioritize short-term gains over long-term survival, leading to their eventual extinction. It's important for animals and plants to make choices that benefit their entire group, rather than just themselves if they want to survive and thrive in their environment.