Rule 2 Ecology is only understandable in the light of evolution. The huge diversity of organisms, and the wealth of variety in their morphologies, physiologies and behavior are all the result of many millions of years of evolution. Thos evolutionary history has left an indelible impression on each and every individual. It is only possible to make sense of the patterns we find today in the light of this evolutionary legacy Rule 3 Nothing happens'for the good of the sp A very common misconception is the idea that patterns of behavior in organisms which appear to be costly to an individual occur for the good of the species. This is absolutely and completely wrong. Natural selection will favor those genes which are passed on to the most offspring even if these genes may cause a reduction in the species population sizeRule 2 Ecology is only understandable in the light of evolution. The huge diversity of organisms, and the wealth of variety in their morphologies, physiologies and behavior are all the result of many millions of years of evolution. Thos evolutionary history has left an indelible impression on each and every individual. It is only possible to make sense of the patterns we find today in the light of this evolutionary legacy. Rule 3 Nothing happens’ for the good of the species’. A very common misconception is the idea that patterns of behavior in organisms which appear to be costly to an individual occur’ for the good of the species’. This is absolutely and completely wrong. Natural selection will favor those genes which are passed on to the most offspring, even if these genes may cause a reduction in the species’population size