AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Stabilizing selection occurs when individuals near the center of the curve have higher fitness than individuals at either end.

Detailed explanation-2: -When individuals at one end of the curve have higher fitness than individuals in the middle or at the other end, directional selection takes place. When individuals near the center of the curve have higher fitness than individuals at either end of the curve, stabilizing selection takes place.

Detailed explanation-3: -Explanation: With regard to evolution and natural selection, fitness refers only to the ability of an organism to contribute to the next generation of its species. In other words, if an organism has a large number of viable offspring, its fitness is high, regardless of other factors like strength, size, and longevity.

Detailed explanation-4: -Directional selection: One of the extreme phenotypes has the highest fitness.

Detailed explanation-5: -Disruptive selection occurs when phenotypes in the middle of the range are selected against. This results in two overlapping phenotypes, one at each end of the distribution. An example is sexual dimorphism. This refers to differences between the phenotypes of males and females of the same species.