The shift in body weight of sociable weaver birds towards an intermediate body weight is an example of ____ selection(s).
A) frequent
B) directional
C) disruptive
D) stabilizing
E) mutational

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Stabilizing selection favors the intermediate phenotype and reduces the variation in a population by selecting against extreme traits. In this example, the shift in body weight of sociable weaver birds towards an intermediate body weight suggests that individuals with extreme body weights are less likely to survive and reproduce, while those with intermediate weights have a higher fitness. Therefore, it is an example of stabilizing selection.

The Shift in Body Weight of Sociable Weaver Birds Towards