Question

In a species of snail, dark-shelled individuals are better hidden from bird predators in the shady forest, while light-shelled individuals are better hidden in well-lit brushy edge areas. If there were no areas of intermediate brightness in this habitat, which type of selection would act on shell color in these snails?a. stabilizing selection.b. directional selection.c. disruptive selection.

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Disruptive Selection

Explanation:

Disruptive selection occurs when two extremes of continuous variation are favored more than intermediate traits.  

The extremes of continuous variation exhibited in this species of snail is the color of their shell which allows them to blend with the background of their habitat.  

The shady forest of the habitat makes the dark-shelled individuals to be better hidden from bird predators, while the light-shelled individuals are better hidden in well-lit brushy edge areas. This disruptive coloration exhibited by both individuals makes both individuals of this species of snail less vulnerable to predation.  

Both individuals of this species both extremities would naturally survive in this habitat as snails with intermediate extremities would be highly preyed on since there is no area of intermediate brightness in the habitat to make them invisible to predators