Which type of selection is characterized by maintaining a certain phenotype within a population?

Stabilizing selection is a type of natural selection that favors intermediate phenotypes over extreme variations. In a population, this process helps to maintain certain traits that are well-suited for survival in the given environment. For example, in a species of bird, stabilizing selection may favor moderate body sizes: those that are too small may struggle to find food, while those that are too large might have difficulty escaping predators. By favoring these intermediate traits, stabilizing selection reduces variability and ensures that a specific phenotype is maintained over generations. This ultimately leads to increased fitness for the population as a whole, as the trait is optimized for the prevailing conditions.