Over generations, female reindeer in a Finnish population give birth to larger offspring. Which type of selection is occurring, and how would a distribution curve for this trait change over time?
(1 point)
• directional selection; the curve would shift to the left
• stabilizing selection; the curve would become taller in the middle
O directional selection; the curve would shift to the right
O stabilizing selection; the curve would become shorter in the middle
The correct answer is: stabilizing selection; the curve would become taller in the middle.
In stabilizing selection, individuals with intermediate traits are favored, while those with extreme traits are selected against. In this case, female reindeer in a Finnish population giving birth to larger offspring indicates that individuals with larger offspring have a higher chance of survival and reproductive success. Consequently, over generations, the trait for larger offspring would become more common in the population, resulting in a narrower distribution curve that is taller in the middle, indicating a higher frequency of individuals with intermediate-sized offspring.