Final answer:
The statement that populations with high initial genetic diversity have a better chance of adapting to climate change is True. Genetic diversity provides a variety of traits that can be advantageous in changing environments, ultimately aiding survival and reproduction.
Step-by-step explanation:
Populations and Genetic Diversity
Populations have a better chance of adapting to climate change if their initial genetic diversity is high rather than low. This statement is True. Genetic diversity provides a wide range of traits within a population, and in the face of environmental changes, some of these traits may be advantageous. These beneficial traits allow individuals carrying them to survive, reproduce, and pass on their genes to the next generation.
Genetic diversity acts as a buffer against extinction when a population is confronted by changes in the environment. For instance, Genus A might contain species well adapted to their current environment, but it is Genus B, with greater genetic diversity, that is more likely to harbor traits conferring an advantage in a new environment. Over time, this diversity increases a population's ability to cope with ongoing changes and can lead to the emergence of new adaptations through the process of natural selection.
It's important to understand that small populations are more vulnerable to genetic drift than larger populations. Genetic drift can lead to the loss of genetic variation within these small populations, further reducing their ability to adapt to new environmental pressures. Therefore, the more individuals in a population, and the more diverse their genetic makeup, the larger and more stable the gene pool becomes, enhancing the chances of the population's survival and adaptability.
In conclusion, genetic diversity is critically important to the survival and adaptive capacity of populations. Populations with high genetic diversity have a significantly better opportunity to survive and thrive in the face of environmental changes, such as climate change, than those with low diversity.