Suppose that females of a species of beetles prefer to mate with males that have relatively rare color patterns. This observation would be an illustration of
A) Muller's ratchet.
B) genetic drift.
C) the founder effect.
D) frequency-dependent selection.
E) disruptive selection.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This observation is an example of frequency-dependent selection because the preference for rare color patterns creates a selection pressure that favors the less common phenotype. Over time, this can lead to a balanced polymorphism where both color patterns are maintained at stable frequencies in the population.

Suppose That Females of a Species of Beetles Prefer to Mate