Editing Stabilizing selection (section)

== Influence on population structure ==
Stabilizing selection causes the narrowing of the phenotypes seen in a population. This is because the extreme phenotypes are selected against, causing reduced survival in organisms with those traits. This results in a population consisting of fewer phenotypes, with most traits representing the mean value of the population. This narrowing of phenotypes causes a reduction in genetic diversity in a population.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Hunt J, Blows MW, Zajitschek F, Jennions MD, Brooks R | title = Reconciling strong stabilizing selection with the maintenance of genetic variation in a natural population of black field crickets (Teleogryllus commodus) | journal = Genetics | volume = 177 | issue = 2 | pages = 875–80 | date = October 2007 | pmid = 17660544 | pmc = 2034650 | doi = 10.1534/genetics.107.077057 }}</ref> Maintaining genetic variation is essential for the survival of a population because it is what allows them to evolve over time. In order for a population to adapt to changing environmental conditions they must have enough genetic diversity to select for new traits as they become favorable.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/conservation_04|title=Low genetic variation|website=evolution.berkeley.edu|access-date=13 May 2018}}</ref>