Question

The Weaver birds from the African savanna exhibit a trade-off between risking starvation and being hunted by predators. As a result the birds that are of medium weight have the selective advantage and make up the majority of the population. Which type of natural selection is at work here?

A) Directional Selection
B) Disruptive Selection
C) Stabilizing Selection

Answer 1

Stabilizing selection is the correct answer for this question. It decreases the amount of biodiversity on Earth! :)

Answer 2

The correct answer would be C) Stabilizing selection.

Stabilizing selection is a type of natural selection in which intermediate traits are chosen or given preference over the extreme value of the traits.

For example, in human weight of infant is a type of stabilizing selection. Too less weight increases the chances of heat loos, and too much weight can produce complications during birth that would risk the life of mother as well as child.

Similarly, in Weaver birds intermediate weight is chosen over very less and very heavy weight as both of them decrease their chance of survival.