Question

In California, the sunflower population dividing into two subpopulations is an example for

• A. Directional selection
• B. Disruptive selection
• C. Centripetal selection
• D. Stabilizing selection

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Disruptive selection

The disruptive selection or the centrifugal selection occurs when the environmental conditions for a given population become adverse such that they start pushing away phenotypically. This results in the splitting of the population in two or more sub-population and if there is no gene flow between this two sub-population, each of these may evolve into a different population. In California, the sunflower population underwent disruptive selection in which one became adapted to the dry habitat and the other became adapted to the wet habitat over the period of 12 years.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Disruptive selection'.