Which form of natural selection favors individuals at both phenotypic extremes while selecting against intermediate phenotypes?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Disruptive (diversifying) selection
Disruptive selection occurs when environmental conditions favor individuals on both ends of a phenotypic distribution over individuals with intermediate phenotypes, potentially leading to bimodal distributions and sympatric speciation. Stabilizing selection favors the intermediate phenotype (reducing variance), and directional selection shifts the population mean toward one extreme.
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