In stabilizing selection, which individuals have the highest fitness?

In stabilizing selection, individuals with the average form of a trait have the highest fitness. This type of selection occurs when individuals with traits that are average or typical for a population have a better survival and reproductive success compared to those with extreme traits.

The reason average traits are favored in stabilizing selection often relates to environmental factors that favor a particular trait range that contributes to successful adaptation and survival. For example, in a population of birds, those with average wing sizes might be more efficient at flight, allowing them to evade predators more effectively than those with either very small or very large wings.

This selection pressures against the extremes help maintain certain traits within a population, promoting overall stability and resilience against changes in the environment. In this way, stabilizing selection reinforces traits that are already well-suited to existing conditions, ensuring that individuals who fall within the average range thrive.