Asked by jay
A population of snakes that eat small rodents enters a new habitat. In the new habitat, there are many species of rodents, and their populations are high because there are few natural predators. What will most likely be the effect on the genetic variation of the snake population?
Genetic variation will increase because of a selective pressure.
Genetic variation will increase because of a new habitat and food source.
Genetic variation will decrease because of a selective pressure.
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Genetic variation will increase because of a new habitat and food source.
Reason: abundant, varied prey and few predators relax strong selective pressures and allow the snake population to expand. A larger population and reduced directional selection let more alleles persist (and different prey types can promote diversifying selection), so overall genetic variation is likely to increase.
Reason: abundant, varied prey and few predators relax strong selective pressures and allow the snake population to expand. A larger population and reduced directional selection let more alleles persist (and different prey types can promote diversifying selection), so overall genetic variation is likely to increase.
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