Question

Which of the following statements explains why having small and isolated populations puts the New England cottontail rabbits at risk for extinction?

A) Limited gene flow can lead to inbreeding and reduced genetic diversity.
B) Small populations are more resilient to environmental changes.
C) Isolated rabbits are less susceptible to diseases.
D) Large populations are less likely to find adequate food sources.

Answer 1

Having small and isolated populations puts the New England cottontail rabbits at risk for extinction because limited gene flow can lead to inbreeding and reduced genetic diversity.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer is A) Limited gene flow can lead to inbreeding and reduced genetic diversity.

Small and isolated populations of New England cottontail rabbits are at risk for extinction because limited gene flow can lead to inbreeding and reduced genetic diversity. When populations are small and isolated, there is less opportunity for individuals to migrate and introduce new genes into the population. This can result in a higher likelihood of inbreeding, which can bring about negative genetic effects and reduce the ability of the population to adapt to changing environmental conditions.

For example, if a small population of New England cottontail rabbits is isolated from other populations, the limited number of individuals can closely interbreed over time. This can lead to a higher chance of harmful recessive alleles being expressed and lower genetic diversity, which reduces the overall fitness of the population.