Selection Stabilizing

Stabilizing selection is one of the types of natural selection, as a result of which the limits of variability of any trait in a population are narrowed.

Such selection is aimed at maintaining the stability of the trait and counteracting the appearance of too strong deviations from the average value. It can act when the average values ​​of a trait are most adapted to given environmental conditions.

For example, if in a butterfly population the individuals with the average wing size have the highest survival rate, then selection will counteract the appearance of both too small and too large wings. Thus, stabilizing selection maintains the reaction norm of a trait within optimal limits.

This type of selection plays an important role in maintaining the genetic homogeneity of populations and preventing excessive variability that can reduce their viability. Therefore, stabilizing selection is considered as one of the key factors in maintaining the stability of species in the long term evolutionary perspective.