Final answer:
Genetic change in localized populations, such as those founded by founder events, can happen rapidly due to the influence of ecological selection favoring certain traits, and the reduced gene flow and enhanced genetic drift, which can lead to quick evolutionary adaptations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Genetic change can be very rapid in localized populations founded by founder events; differences in ecological selection can play a role because different environmental conditions favor different phenotypes, enhancing certain traits that aid in survival and reproduction. Conflicting pressures that act on a widespread species may be reduced or altered in these localized populations, leading to rapid evolutionary change as a result of selection pressures such as natural selection, genetic drift, gene flow, mutation, nonrandom mating, and environmental variances.
For example, small populations that form due to events such as geographic isolation may experience the founder effect, where genetic variance is reduced, but any beneficial mutations can quickly become predominant if they aid in survival. This, coupled with ecological selection that favors certain traits in a new environment, can lead to rapid adaptation and divergence from the parent population. The process of gene flow can also be restricted in isolated populations, leading to a more significant effect of genetic drift and selection, causing rapid genetic changes.