Nonrandom mating typically occurs between individuals that are what?

Nonrandom mating occurs when individuals select their mates based on specific traits or characteristics rather than randomly mating with any member of their species. When individuals of the same phenotype mate, they are more likely to share similar physical or behavioral traits, which can lead to assortative mating. This can reinforce these traits within a population over time.

This process contrasts with random mating, where mate choice is independent of the traits of individuals, allowing for greater genetic variation. In cases of nonrandom mating, especially involving phenotypic similarity, there can be an increase in homozygosity and a decreased genetic diversity within the next generation, which can have various evolutionary implications for a population.

The other choices do not accurately represent the characteristics of nonrandom mating. For example, mating between individuals of different species would not typically result in offspring and is not a characteristic of nonrandom mating, while being far apart geographically would likely lead to reproductive isolation. Genetically diverse individuals might engage in random mating, as they may not select mates based solely on shared characteristics.