Disruptive selection operates whenever:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Disruptive selection occurs when extreme phenotypes have an advantage over the average phenotype, leading to the splitting of a population into two distinct groups. This process can occur due to environmental pressures or the preference for specific traits in mate selection. Option A is incorrect because rarity alone does not necessarily translate into success. Option B is incorrect because genetic drift does not disrupt natural selection but rather randomizes gene frequencies. Option D is incorrect because survival based solely on size would be an example of directional selection, not disruptive selection.

Disruptive Selection Operates Whenever