A type of natural selection in which more individuals acquire peripher...
Natural selection can lead to stabilisation (in which more individuals acquire mean character value), directional change (more individuals acquire value other than the mean character value) or disruption (more individuals acquire peripheral character value at both ends of the distribution curve)
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A type of natural selection in which more individuals acquire peripher...
Understanding Disruptive Selection
Disruptive selection is a fascinating form of natural selection that leads to the enhancement of extreme traits within a population. This process plays a crucial role in evolutionary biology.
What is Disruptive Selection?
- Disruptive selection occurs when individuals at both extremes of a trait distribution have a higher fitness than those with intermediate traits.
- This can lead to a bimodal distribution of traits, where the population diverges into two distinct groups.
Key Characteristics
- Enhanced Extremes: Individuals with extreme traits, such as very large or very small sizes, tend to survive and reproduce more successfully than those with average traits.
- Environmental Factors: This selection often arises in heterogeneous environments where resources are split among different niches, favoring specialized adaptations.
Examples of Disruptive Selection
- Bird Beak Size: In a habitat with two types of seeds (large and small), birds with either very large or very small beaks are more successful in feeding than those with average-sized beaks.
- Coloration in Animals: If a species of fish has two distinct color patterns that provide camouflage against predators, individuals displaying these extremes are more likely to survive.
Conclusion
Disruptive selection can lead to speciation by promoting the divergence of populations. This process is essential in understanding the dynamics of evolution and biodiversity, illustrating how environmental pressures shape the traits of organisms over time.