What would increase the rate of evolution in a population?

The selection coefficient measures the strength of natural selection acting on a particular trait. A large selection coefficient indicates that individuals with a certain trait have a significantly higher or lower fitness compared to others. When the selection coefficient is large, the differences in survival and reproduction rates among individuals in the population become pronounced. This enhances the effectiveness of natural selection, allowing beneficial traits to spread more rapidly through the gene pool. Consequently, a higher selection pressure accelerates the adaptation process, leading to an increased rate of evolution.

In contrast, a low mutation rate would slow the introduction of new genetic variation into the population, hindering potential evolutionary changes. Long generation times can also reduce the rate of evolution since fewer generations occur in a given timeframe, resulting in slower accumulation of changes. Lastly, if a trait lacks heritability, it cannot be passed down to offspring, making it impossible for natural selection to favor or disfavor that trait across generations. Each of these factors can limit the rate at which a population evolves, reinforcing the importance of a large selection coefficient in driving evolutionary change.