The gene pools of small populations are reduced compared to those of larger populations because of inbreeding, lack of advantageous traits, lack of suitable mates, and bottleneck events. Inbreeding can lead to a decrease in genetic diversity within a population, as individuals are more likely to share similar genetic traits. This can increase the risk of harmful genetic mutations being passed on and decrease the overall fitness of the population. Additionally, small populations may lack advantageous traits that would help them adapt to changing environmental conditions. Limited mate choice in small populations can lead to further reduction in genetic diversity and increase the risk of genetic disorders. Bottleneck events, such as natural disasters or disease outbreaks, can also greatly reduce the size of a population and result in a loss of genetic diversity.
