Final answer:
The rate of decline in linkage disequilibrium occurs more slowly with a lower rate of recombination, based on how alleles are less likely to be reshuffled at lower recombination rates, maintaining their non-random association for longer periods.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on the information provided, we can conclude that the rate of decline in linkage disequilibrium occurs more slowly with a lower rate of recombination. Linkage disequilibrium measures the non-random association of alleles at different loci. When there is a lower rate of recombination, alleles are less likely to be reshuffled, therefore, maintaining linkage disequilibrium for longer periods. Conversely, higher recombination rates break up this association more quickly, leading to a faster decline in linkage disequilibrium. Sturtevant's representation of linear maps of alleles indicates that perfectly linked genes have a recombination frequency of 0, while a frequency of 0.5 corresponds to independent assortment with equal recombination and parental types in offspring.