Question

The graph on the left shows the heights of a population of penguins. The graph on the left shows heights of the population five years later.

What happened to the population of penguins?

Answer 1

It is directional selection.

Answer 2

Answer: disruptive selection

There are three types of selection:

1. Stabilizing selection
2. Directional selection
3. Disruptive selection

1. Stabilizing selection

• Selects for average individuals
• Decreases variation/diversity ⇒ the population has more of the average trait and less of the extreme traits

2. Directional selection

• Selects for one of the extreme variations of a trait
• Decreases variation/diversity

3. Disruptive selection

• Selects for both extremes of a trait's variation
• Selects against average phenotypes
• Can lead to speciation (formation of a new species)

See below attachment for additional help.