Types of Natural Selection
There are three types of Natural Selection which are discussed below:
Types of Natural Selection
Stabilizing Selection
Stabilizing selection is a type of natural selection that favors the average traits within a population, maintaining the existing condition and reducing genetic variation. In this process, extreme variations are selected against, while traits close to the population average are favored, ensuring that the population remains well-adapted to its current environment. This type of selection is common in stable environments where there is minimal change, leading to the preservation of existing traits over time.
Directional Selection
Directional selection is a type of natural selection where individuals with traits that are at one extreme of the range are favored over other individuals in the population. This leads to a shift in the average phenotype of the population towards that extreme trait over time. Essentially, directional selection occurs when environmental conditions change, favoring individuals with specific traits that confer an advantage for survival and reproduction. As a result, the frequency of those advantageous traits increases in the population while the frequency of other traits decreases.
Disruptive Selection
Disruptive selection is a type of natural selection where extreme traits are favored over intermediate traits, leading to the divergence of a population into two distinct phenotypic groups. This occurs when environmental conditions create selective pressures that benefit individuals at both ends of the trait spectrum, resulting in the reduced fitness of individuals with intermediate traits. Disruptive selection can drive the evolution of new species or the maintenance of existing diversity within a population
Natural Selection
Natural selection theory explains how traits that enhance an organism’s survival and reproduction become more common in a population over time. This theory explains the process of evolution. Understanding the types of natural selection and its mechanism helps in learning how various environmental pressures shape the evolution and adaptation of species over time. In this article, we will read about natural selection theory in detail.
Table of Content
- What is Natural Selection?
- Mechanism of Natural Selection
- Variation (V)
- Inheritance (I)
- Selection (S)
- Time (T)
- Adaptation (A)
- Types of Natural Selection
- Stabilizing Selection
- Directional Selection
- Disruptive Selection
- Examples of Natural Selection
- Eggs of Robin Bird
- White-Black Peppered Moth
- Himalayan Squirrel
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