Is a species that has few individuals at greater risk of extinction than a species with a large population size? Why or why not?
A) Yes. A species with few individuals is more likely to be eliminated by a reduction in population size caused by a chance environmental event like bad weather or a fire.
B) Maybe. However, there's no risk to a small population as long as genetic diversity is high.
C) Yes. A species with few individuals is likely to have a high percentage of heterozygotes. This can reduce the likelihood that the species can adaptively evolve in response to environmental changes.
D) No. Genetic drift allows small populations to avoid the loss of advantageous alleles from the population.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A small population size is more susceptible to chance events that can cause a reduction in population size, which can lead to the extinction of the species. Larger populations are better able to withstand environmental fluctuations and have a higher chance of maintaining genetic diversity.

Is a Species That Has Few Individuals at Greater Risk