Why are gene pools of small populations reduced compared to those of the larger populations
Gene pools of small populations are often reduced compared to those of larger populations due to factors such as genetic drift, inbreeding, and reduced genetic variation.
1. Genetic drift: In small populations, genetic drift is more likely to occur. Genetic drift is the random change in allele frequencies that occurs due to chance events rather than natural selection. In small populations, there are fewer individuals to contribute to the gene pool, making genetic drift more pronounced and leading to a reduction in genetic diversity.
2. Inbreeding: In small populations, individuals are more likely to mate with closely related individuals, leading to inbreeding. Inbreeding can result in the increase of homozygosity and the expression of deleterious recessive alleles, ultimately reducing the genetic variation within the population.
3. Reduced genetic variation: Small populations have a limited number of individuals, which means there is a limited amount of genetic variation present in the gene pool. This reduced genetic variation can make the population more vulnerable to environmental changes, diseases, and other stressors that may threaten their survival.
Overall, small populations are more susceptible to losing genetic diversity due to these factors, which can ultimately decrease their ability to adapt and survive in changing environments.