Question

in a bird population, 50% of the individuals had white feathers, and 50% had colored feathers. over time, it was observed that 98% of the population had colorful feathers. the rest had white feathers. how did the type of selection in this example affect the populations biodiversity?
directional selection did not increase the populations biodiversity.
stabilizing selection increased the populations biodiversity
disruptive selection decreased the populations biodiversity
ecosystem selection did not increase the populations biodiversity.

Explanation:

• Directional selection: Favors one extreme phenotype. Here, colored feathers (one extreme) became more common (from 50% to 98%). Biodiversity (variety of traits) would not increase as one trait is being favored over another.
• Stabilizing selection: Favors the intermediate phenotype. But in this case, we are moving towards one extreme (colored feathers), not stabilizing around an intermediate.
• Disruptive selection: Favors both extremes. But here only one extreme (colored feathers) is increasing.
• Ecosystem selection is not a standard type of natural selection in evolutionary biology.

Answer:

Directional selection did not increase the population's biodiversity.