Final Answer:
The event that could not be caused by a population bottleneck c) Increase in genetic diversity
Step-by-step explanation:
Population bottlenecks occur when a population undergoes a significant and rapid decrease in size, often due to events like natural disasters or human activities. In such situations, the surviving individuals may not represent the full range of genetic diversity present in the original population. As a result, certain alleles become more prevalent, while others are lost, leading to a decrease in overall genetic variation.
The loss of specific traits is a consequence of the reduction in genetic diversity during a bottleneck. Traits that were present in the pre-bottleneck population may be lost due to the random nature of the surviving individuals and the limited gene pool.
On the other hand, an increase in genetic diversity is unlikely during a population bottleneck. The surviving individuals carry a subset of the original genetic variation, and the population's overall diversity is reduced. The bottleneck restricts the gene pool, making it less likely for new genetic variants to emerge.
In summary, the correct answer is c) Increase in genetic diversity, as this outcome contradicts the typical consequences of a population bottleneck, which involve a decrease in genetic variation and the potential loss of specific traits.