Why are the gene pools of small populations reduced compared to those of larger populations? A) bottleneck events. B) inbreeding. C) lack of advantage traits. D) lack of suitable mates.
A) bottleneck events.
Bottleneck events occur when a population is drastically reduced in size, often due to factors such as natural disasters, diseases, or human activities. This reduction in population size can lead to a decrease in genetic diversity, as only a small portion of the original gene pool is represented in the surviving individuals. Over time, this can result in a loss of advantageous traits and an increase in harmful genetic mutations, ultimately reducing the overall genetic variation within the population.
Inbreeding, lack of advantageous traits, and lack of suitable mates can also contribute to a reduction in the gene pool of small populations, but bottleneck events are a major factor that can have a significant impact on genetic diversity and overall population health.