Types of Natural Selection

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What is stabilizing selection?

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A type of natural selection that favors intermediate variants by acting against extreme phenotypes. Example: Cactus spines are produced in moderate numbers to balance energy use and predation risk.

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What is artificial selection?

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The intentional breeding of plants or animals to produce desired traits. Example: Modern corn plants are descendants of teosinte, selectively bred for desirable characteristics.

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What is directional selection?

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A type of natural selection that favors one extreme phenotype over others, leading to a shift in the population's traits. Example: Tall kelp have an advantage in sunlight access.

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What is disruptive selection?

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A type of natural selection that favors extreme phenotypes at both ends of the spectrum over intermediate phenotypes. Example: Snails with forward and backward spirals have advantages in their environment.

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What is sexual selection?

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A mode of natural selection where individuals with certain inherited characteristics are more likely than others to obtain mates. Example: Brightly colored birds may attract more mates.

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How does stabilizing selection affect population diversity?

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It reduces variation by favoring average traits and eliminating extremes, leading to a more uniform population.

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How does artificial selection differ from natural selection?

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Artificial selection is driven by human choice, while natural selection occurs through environmental pressures.

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What is an example of directional selection in animals?

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An example is the increase in size of certain fish species over time, as larger fish may have better survival rates.

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What is the role of environmental factors in disruptive selection?

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Environmental factors can create niches that favor extreme traits, leading to the survival of those phenotypes.

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What is the significance of fitness in natural selection?

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Fitness refers to an organism's ability to survive and reproduce in its environment, influencing which traits are passed on.