Question
Which type of environment would tend to reduce genetic variation in a population because of evolution by natural selection?(1 point) Responses an old growth forest with trees that are over 1,500 years old an old growth forest with trees that are over 1,500 years old grasslands that are undergoing severe drought grasslands that are undergoing severe drought an ocean ecosystem that is becoming more acidic an ocean ecosystem that is becoming more acidic a tropical rainforest that is being deforested for farmland
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The environment that would tend to reduce genetic variation in a population because of evolution by natural selection is **grasslands that are undergoing severe drought**.
In this scenario, the severity of the drought would create strong selective pressure on the species adapted to that environment, potentially leading to the survival of only those individuals with traits that allow them to withstand the drought conditions. This could reduce genetic variation as non-adaptive traits may be lost over time, leading to a population that predominantly features the advantageous traits suited for survival in the drought conditions.
In this scenario, the severity of the drought would create strong selective pressure on the species adapted to that environment, potentially leading to the survival of only those individuals with traits that allow them to withstand the drought conditions. This could reduce genetic variation as non-adaptive traits may be lost over time, leading to a population that predominantly features the advantageous traits suited for survival in the drought conditions.