Tasmanian devils once inhabited most of present-day Australia, but only an isolated population on the island of Tasmania has survived to the present day. Which of the following processes has likely affected Tasmanian devils as a result of this history?
A) a higher mutation rate
B) stronger natural selection
C) a genetic bottleneck
D) gene flow

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A genetic bottleneck occurs when a population's size is significantly reduced for at least one generation, leading to a loss of genetic diversity. This is likely what happened to Tasmanian devils when their population became restricted to Tasmania, reducing their genetic diversity compared to when they inhabited a larger area.

Tasmanian Devils Once Inhabited Most of Present-Day Australia, but Only