Which statement best describes the consequences of disruptive selection?

Disruptive selection is an evolutionary process that favors individuals at both extremes of a phenotypic range while selecting against those in the middle. This type of selection leads to increased specialization in traits because individuals with extreme phenotypes are better adapted to their specific environments or ecological niches. As a result, the population may diverge into distinct groups, each with specialized adaptations, which can enhance survival and reproductive success in varying conditions.

In contrast, the other options misrepresent the effects of disruptive selection. A homogenous population is the result of stabilizing selection, which reduces variation by favoring the average phenotype. Favoring the average phenotype is characteristic of stabilizing selection as well, where diversity is minimized. Minimizing genetic variance would also be more aligned with stabilizing selection, as it works to decrease variation by ignoring extremes, rather than fostering them.

Therefore, the correct understanding of disruptive selection focuses on the dynamic of promoting extremes, which leads to specialization in traits rather than uniformity or a reduction in genetic diversity.