What key point does a life table illustrate regarding natural selection?

A life table is a crucial tool in understanding the dynamics of populations and illustrates several important aspects of natural selection. The correct answer emphasizes that natural selection tends to influence traits that affect reproductive success, and any survival advantages typically relate to those ages when individuals are able to reproduce.

Specifically, the key point revealed in a life table is that natural selection does not generally enhance survival rates past the age of last reproduction. Once individuals reach their reproductive phase and have produced offspring, their likelihood of survival is less relevant to the process of selection. Natural selection primarily operates on the traits that maximize reproductive output, meaning that traits advantageous for survival might be discarded after the point where further reproduction is no longer biologically possible.

This understanding helps clarify why post-reproductive survival doesn't play a significant role in the evolution of traits within a population. Instead, the focus of natural selection is on how well individuals can survive and reproduce before reaching that age threshold.