In a certain bird species, clutch size (the number of eggs laid by a female at one time) ranges from four to eight, and the most frequent clutch size is six.This phenomenon is an example of
A)sexual selection.
B)stabilizing selection.
C)disruptive selection.
D)directional selection.
E)divergent selection.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Stabilizing selection occurs when selection pressures favor an intermediate phenotype and act against extreme phenotypes. In this case, the most frequent clutch size is six, which is intermediate between the range of four to eight eggs. This suggests that selection pressures are acting against both smaller and larger clutch sizes, leading to a stabilizing effect on the population.

In a Certain Bird Species, Clutch Size (The Number of Eggs