Question

A small population is at a greater risk of extinction because

A) there is less competition within the population.
B) of an increase in the genetic diversity within the population.
C) most of the individuals would likely die in a stochastic event (e.g., wildfire).
D) females can no longer reproduce.

Answer 1

Small populations are at higher risk of extinction due to genetic drift's higher relative impact, vulnerability to stochastic events like wildfires, and a decline in genetic diversity making them susceptible to environmental changes or genetic problems.

Step-by-step explanation:

A small population is at a greater risk of extinction primarily due to the reasons that include genetic drift, susceptibility to stochastic events, and reduced genetic diversity. Small populations are more impacted by genetic drift because the loss or gain of alleles has a relatively higher impact. For instance, if one individual in a population of ten dies before it reproduces, 10% of the gene pool is lost. In contrast, the loss of one individual in a population of one hundred represents only a 1% change.

Moreover, small populations are more likely to be wiped out by stochastic events such as wildfires, as they lack the numbers to ensure survival and recolonization. Lastly, a small initial population size usually hints at a decline in genetic diversity, which can make a population more vulnerable to recessive lethal alleles or to changing environmental conditions.