6. After a bottleneck event, the population of rabbits in an area has significantly decreased. A decade later, the population of the rabbits recovers to its original numbers. Are the rabbits more likely to survive or less likely to survive?

Answer 1

After a bottleneck event, the remaining population of rabbits typically has a reduced genetic diversity because only a small number of individuals contributed to the subsequent recovery. This loss of genetic diversity can have several consequences that may affect the rabbits' likelihood of survival in the future:

1. Reduced Genetic Diversity: With less genetic variability, the population may be less adaptable to environmental changes, diseases, or other stressors. A lack of genetic diversity can result in a reduced ability to evolve and adapt over time.

2. Inbreeding Depression: The limited gene pool can lead to inbreeding, which may increase the frequency of harmful genetic traits and decrease overall fitness. Inbreeding depression can result in lower reproductive rates, higher vulnerability to diseases, and other health issues.

3. Population Size Recovery: While the population may recover to its original numbers, the underlying genetic health of that population may remain compromised. This means that they may not be better off despite having a larger population size.

In conclusion, while the population of rabbits may numerically return to its original size, they are likely to be less likely to survive in the long term due to the negative impacts of limited genetic diversity and potential inbreeding. Therefore, their resilience to future threats would be lower compared to a genetically diverse population.