Which term refers to a population with only a few individuals and thus a limited ability to rebuild due to a lack of genetic diversity?
A) founder effect
B) demographic bottleneck
C) inbreeding depression
D) genetic drift

Question

Which term refers to a population with only a few individuals and thus a limited ability to rebuild due to a lack of genetic diversity? 
A) founder effect 
B) demographic bottleneck 
C) inbreeding depression 
D) genetic drift

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A demographic bottleneck refers to a population that has gone through a drastic reduction in numbers, which can result in a limited gene pool with reduced genetic diversity. This can lead to inbreeding depression and reduced ability to adapt to environmental changes, making it difficult for the population to rebuild their numbers. The founder effect is similar to a bottleneck, but occurs when a small group of individuals colonize a new area, resulting in limited genetic diversity in the new population. Genetic drift refers to random changes in allele frequencies that can occur in any population, but is more likely to have a significant impact in small populations.

Which Term Refers to a Population with Only a Few