Question

Biologists are studying an area in Wyoming that once experienced a local extinction of the elk population due to overhunting and loss of habitat. In response to the local extinction, 75 elk from another state were relocated to Wyoming. After several years, the population had more than tripled in size. Now the biologists propose introducing a small population of elk from a different location into the area. How will this introduction most likely affect the local elk population?


Select an answer

A.
Gene flow in the population will cause a significant loss of genetic diversity.


B.
Genetic diversity will increase in the population and reduce the chance of local extinction.


C.
Genetic diversity will not change since elk from the same species are all genetically identical.


D.
Interbreeding will introduce harmful genes into the population and cause a decrease in genetic diversity.

Answer 1

B.

Introducing elk from a different source will add new alleles (gene flow), increasing genetic diversity. That reduces inbreeding depression and raises adaptive potential, lowering the chance of local extinction.