Q1CC - Campbell Biology

Question

How does the reduced genetic diversity of small populations make them more vulnerable to extinction?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

Genetic diversity involves different alleles in the population that make it more adaptable to the change in the environment. If it is reduced in a small population, it is more vulnerable to extinction because it cannot withstand the changes occurring in the environment.

Step 1: Population

A population is a collection of organisms of the same species that live and reproduce sexually in a particular area. They use the same resources and need similar environmental conditions. It is on the higher ecological level than an organism and at a lower level than a community.

Step 2: Extinction

Extinction is a process by which an organism, a species, or a group terminates completely. When the last organism of a species dies, the species is said to be an extinct species, although breeding and recovery of these organisms were lost before that. 

Step 3: Genetic diversity

Genetic diversity is the variation found in the genetic make-up of the population within a species. In a species containing genetic diversity at a higher level, more variability in individuals will be present. It is critical for a population to adapt to different environments. 

 

If any new, highly selected strain is introduced into a wild population, it will reduce the population’s adaptation ability to changes in environments.