Why are the gene pools of small populations reduced compared to those of larger populations? (1 point)

Question

bottleneck events
bottleneck events

lack of suitable mates
lack of suitable mates

inbreeding
inbreeding

lack of advantageous traits
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, there are fewer individuals to mate with, which increases the likelihood of mating between closely related individuals. This can lead to a decrease in genetic diversity, as alleles (gene variants) may become more limited, and harmful mutations may accumulate. While bottleneck events can also contribute to reduced gene pool size, inbreeding is a more direct consequence of small population size.