Why are the gene pools of small populations reduced compared to those of larger populations? (1 point)
Responses
bottleneck events
lack of suitable mates
inbreeding
lack of advantageous traits
All of the given responses can contribute to the reduction of gene pools in small populations.
Bottleneck events occur when a large population is reduced to a small number of individuals due to a natural disaster, disease outbreak, or other catastrophic event. This sudden reduction in population size can result in the loss of genetic diversity as certain genes may be lost or become more common in the smaller population.
Lack of suitable mates can limit the available gene pool in small populations. When there are few individuals to choose from, there is a higher likelihood of mating with close relatives, leading to more inbreeding.
Inbreeding occurs when individuals within a population mate with close relatives, such as siblings or cousins. This can lead to a reduced gene pool because it increases the chances of inheriting harmful or undesirable genetic traits.
A lack of advantageous traits can also contribute to the reduction of gene pools in small populations. Advantages traits, such as those that improve survival or reproductive success, are more likely to be lost in small populations due to genetic drift, where random changes in the frequency of alleles occur. As a result, small populations may be less able to adapt and evolve to changing environments.