What does disruptive selection look like on a graph?

Answer 1

Disruptive selection on a graph typically appears as a bimodal distribution, where two distinct peaks represent extreme phenotypes, while the intermediate phenotypes are less common or absent. This pattern indicates that individuals at both extremes of a trait are favored by natural selection, leading to a divergence in the population. The graph may show a U-shaped curve, with low frequencies of intermediate traits and higher frequencies of traits at both ends. This form of selection can promote speciation by encouraging the development of distinct traits within a population.