Which statement describes the bottleneck effect?
A) It is a form of gene flow.
B) It occurs when an extreme phenotype is favored.
C) It occurs when the founding members of a population contain a tiny fraction of the alleles found in the original population.
D) It occurs when a population is subjected to near extinction.
E) It occurs due to nonrandom mating.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The bottleneck effect occurs when a population is subjected to near extinction, resulting in a drastic reduction in the population size and genetic diversity. This can lead to a loss of rare alleles and an increase in genetic drift, potentially reducing the population's adaptive potential.

Which Statement Describes the Bottleneck Effect