Who is credited with developing the Mechanics of Evolution, proposing that complex species evolve from simpler forms?

The development of the Mechanics of Evolution is most notably attributed to Charles Darwin. He introduced the theory of natural selection, which posits that species evolve over time through a process where advantageous traits become more common in a population due to the benefits they confer for survival and reproduction. This mechanism explains how complex species can arise from simpler forms through gradual changes and adaptations to their environments.

Darwin's work was foundational in understanding biological evolution as it framed species as dynamic entities rather than fixed, unchanging types. His landmark publication, "On the Origin of Species" (1859), elaborated on these ideas and provided overwhelming evidence from multiple fields, including geology, paleontology, and biogeography, that supported the idea of evolution through natural selection.

Other individuals mentioned in the options contribute to the broader conversation of evolution but in different contexts. For instance, J Baptist Lamarck is recognized for his early ideas about evolution, which focused on the inheritance of acquired characteristics, not natural selection. Georges Cuvier is known for his work in paleontology and the concept of catastrophism, while Charles Lyell impacted the field with his principles of geology, particularly the idea of uniformitarianism, which influenced Darwin's thinking but did not specifically propose a mechanism of evolution.