What type of mating results in a distortion of allele frequencies based on phenotypic traits?

Nonrandom mating refers to a type of mating system where individuals are not paired or choose mates randomly. Instead, individuals select partners based on specific traits or characteristics, which can lead to a disproportionate representation of certain phenotypes in the population. This selective pairing alters the allele frequencies within the population, as individuals with particular phenotypes may produce more offspring than others, thereby skewing the genetic makeup of future generations.

In contrast, random mating would not favor any particular phenotype over others, resulting in a more stable allele frequency that reflects the genetic variation present in the overall population without bias. Panmixia is a concept closely related to random mating, implying complete mixing of the population without restrictions based on phenotypes. Genetic drift, on the other hand, is a mechanism of evolution that occurs due to random fluctuations in allele frequencies from generation to generation, especially in small populations, rather than through mating behavior.