What type of environment is disruptive selection typically associated with?

Disruptive selection is typically associated with a fluctuating environment because it encourages the development of two or more contrasting phenotypes that thrive under different environmental conditions. In a fluctuating environment, resources, climate, and other ecological factors can change, creating opportunities for diverse traits to be favorable at different times or in different microhabitats.

For example, if a population of organisms with a range of traits exists in an area with varying food sources, individuals that can exploit either extreme of the resource spectrum may survive better than those with intermediate traits. This leads to an increase in the phenotypic variation within the population, ultimately facilitating speciation by promoting the divergence of distinct groups that are better adapted to their specific niches or changing conditions.

In contrast, environments that are stable or homogeneous typically favor a single, well-adapted phenotype, leading to stabilizing selection rather than disruptive selection. Limited resources do not inherently favor disruptive selection; rather, they can lead to competition and selection for traits that maximize resource use efficiency.