Final answer:
Sexual reproduction reduces linkage disequilibrium through crossing-over, independent assortment, and random union of gametes, which reshuffles genetic material and creates new combinations of genes in the offspring.
Step-by-step explanation:
Sexual reproduction contributes to the elimination of linkage disequilibrium primarily because it introduces various mechanisms by which genetic combinations are varied and reshuffled. During meiosis, processes such as crossing-over and independent assortment lead to new genetic combinations in the resulting gametes.
Furthermore, the union of disparate gametes during fertilization combines the diverse genetic material from two different parents into the zygote. This process of recombination and the random nature of gamete fusion ensure that linkage disequilibrium decreases over generations, as alleles are separated and recombined in various ways, independent of their previous associations.