Why are the gene pools of small populations reduced compared to those of larger populations?
A. inbreeding
B. lack of advantageous traits
C. lack of suitable mates
D. bottleneck events
D. bottleneck events
Bottleneck events, such as natural disasters or human activities, can greatly reduce the size of a population. This can lead to a decrease in genetic diversity as fewer individuals are contributing to the gene pool. In small populations, there is also a higher likelihood of inbreeding, which can further reduce genetic diversity and increase the prevalence of harmful traits. Additionally, small populations may have limited access to suitable mates, further restricting genetic variation.