Question

which type of selection leads to increased phenotypic and genetic variation?
directional selection
disruptive selection
stabilizing selection
species selection

Explanation:

Disruptive selection (also called diversifying selection) favors extreme phenotypes over intermediate ones. This leads to increased phenotypic variation as two or more distinct phenotypes become more common, and genetic variation rises because alleles associated with extreme traits are preserved. Directional selection shifts toward one extreme, stabilizing selection favors intermediates (reducing variation), and "species selection" is not a standard type of natural selection affecting within-population variation.

Answer:

disruptive selection