Why are the gene pools of small populations reduced compared to those of larger populations? (1 point) Responses inbreeding inbreeding lack of suitable mates lack of suitable mates bottleneck events bottleneck events lack of advantageous traits

Answer 1

The gene pools of small populations are reduced compared to those of larger populations primarily due to inbreeding. In small populations, individuals are more likely to breed with close relatives, which can lead to a limited genetic diversity and an increase in the chances of expressing deleterious traits. This genetic similarity reduces the overall gene pool compared to larger populations, where more diversity exists, allowing for a broader range of genetic material.