How does disruptive selection affect a population?

Disruptive selection is a type of natural selection that occurs when environmental conditions favor organisms with extreme traits over those with intermediate traits. In this scenario, individuals at both ends of the trait spectrum have a higher fitness than those who exhibit average or intermediate characteristics.

This means that a population undergoing disruptive selection might evolve to exhibit two distinct forms tailored to different niches or resources within their environment. For instance, in a hypothetical population of birds, those with either very large or very small beaks might be better suited for accessing different types of food, while those with medium-sized beaks may struggle to compete effectively.

Therefore, the correct answer highlights that disruptive selection indeed favors organisms with extreme traits, leading to increased divergence within the population. Over time, this can contribute to speciation, where populations adapt to different ecological niches.