Why are the gene pools of small populations reduced compared to those of larger populations? (1 point) Responses inbreeding inbreeding lack of advantageous traits lack of advantageous traits lack of suitable mates lack of suitable mates bottleneck events bottleneck events
Bottleneck events and inbreeding are the main reasons why the gene pools of small populations are reduced compared to those of larger populations. Inbreeding occurs when individuals in a small population mate with closely related individuals, leading to a decrease in genetic diversity. Bottleneck events occur when a population undergoes a sharp reduction in size, resulting in the loss of genetic variation. Both of these factors can limit the number of different alleles present in a small population, making it more susceptible to genetic disorders and reducing its overall fitness. Additionally, small populations may also lack suitable mates or advantageous traits, further reducing their genetic diversity.
