How would you best describe the process of disruptive selection?

Disruptive selection is best described as a process that favors extreme phenotypes at both ends of the phenotypic spectrum while eliminating intermediate phenotypes. This means that individuals with traits that are significantly different from the average are more likely to survive and reproduce than those with traits that fall in the middle range.

In environments where resources or conditions favor diverse strategies, individuals exhibiting extreme characteristics may have advantages that lead to increased reproductive success. For example, in a habitat where there are two distinct food sources—one that is best exploited by birds with very large beaks and another by birds with very small beaks—this selection leads to the development of two distinct phenotypes while those with intermediate-sized beaks may struggle in both niches, leading to their decline.

This process can contribute to speciation over time, as the divergence of traits can eventually lead to reproductive isolation. Thus, the defining feature of disruptive selection is its role in promoting extreme traits while reducing the frequency of intermediate traits in a population.