On the black-sand beaches of Hawaii exist clams with white, grey, and black phenotypes. It has been observed along these beaches that predatory birds target white clam shells over dark because they are more visible, If a population of larvae drifts to ano

The selection that could occur in this scenario is stabilizing selection. Stabilizing selection would favor grey and black clam phenotypes as they would be less visible to predatory birds on white sand beaches, while still being visible on black sand beaches. This would result in an increase in the frequency of grey and black phenotypes within the population, while white phenotypes would decrease. This scenario shows how the environment can influence natural selection, as the color of the sand on the beach has a direct impact on the survival of the clam population. In turn, the survivability of the clams is linked to their potential fitness, as those with traits that allow them to better survive in the environment will be more likely to reproduce and pass on those traits to their offspring. Overall, this scenario highlights the intricate relationship between an organism, its environment, and its survivability and potential fitness.