The primary mechanism that drives the evolutionary process is natural selection. This process occurs when individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those traits on to future generations. Over time, this leads to adaptations that enhance a species' fitness in its environment. Other mechanisms include mutation, which introduces genetic variation, and genetic drift, which can cause changes in population traits due to random events. Understanding these processes is fundamental to studying biodiversity, species interaction, and ecosystem dynamics.