Final answer:
Natural selection is the process by which organisms with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce. There are three types of natural selection: stabilizing, directional, and disruptive.
Step-by-step explanation:
Natural selection is the process by which organisms that are better adapted to their environment have a greater chance of surviving and reproducing, passing on their advantageous traits to future generations. There are three types of natural selection:
- Stabilizing selection: This occurs when individuals with intermediate traits have higher fitness compared to those with extreme traits. For example, in a bird population, individuals with average-sized beaks may have an advantage in accessing a variety of food sources.
- Directional selection: This occurs when individuals with one extreme trait have higher fitness compared to those with the other extreme trait. For instance, in a population of giraffes, individuals with longer necks may have an advantage in reaching leaves on tall trees.
- Disruptive selection: This occurs when individuals with extreme traits at both ends of the spectrum have higher fitness compared to those with intermediate traits. An example is a population of snails where individuals with very light or very dark shells are better camouflaged and have a higher chance of survival compared to those with intermediate shell colors.