Which term best describes the process of a species adapting over time to its environment?

The term that best describes the process of a species adapting over time to its environment is evolution. Evolution refers to the gradual changes in the inherited traits of a population over generations, which can lead to adaptations that enhance survival and reproduction in a given environment. This process is driven by mechanisms such as natural selection, mutation, gene flow, and genetic drift.

As species encounter changing environmental conditions, they may develop new traits or characteristics that better suit them to their surroundings, leading to improvements in their chances of survival. This transformative process explains the vast diversity of life observed on Earth today and how species have come to occupy different ecological niches.

The other options, while related to biological concepts, do not accurately describe this specific process. Extinction refers to the complete disappearance of a species, revolution typically pertains to dramatic or rapid changes, often in social or political contexts, and diversification refers to the increase in variety or number of species, which may occur as a result of evolution but does not define the process of adapting over time explicitly.