Final answer:
In a smaller population with stronger genetic drift, random heterozygosity will decline. This results from the fact that in small populations, each individual's genetic contribution has a larger impact on the population's overall genetic diversity, leading to increased likelihood of genetic homogeneity through random events.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a smaller population with stronger genetic drift, heterozygosity will decline. The correct answer is A) Random. Genetic drift is more pronounced in small populations because each individual's genetic contribution represents a larger fraction of the population's gene pool. Therefore, random events can have a more significant effect on the population's genetic makeup. This can lead to the reduction of genetic variability and a decline in heterozygosity, where individuals are more likely to be homozygous for certain alleles, either due to the loss or fixation of alleles.
For example, the phenomenon of genetic drift is illustrated through scenarios where certain alleles become more or less prevalent due to random events. These can be situations like natural disasters disproportionately affecting certain phenotypes (c) or differential survival and reproduction (d), which can affect the frequency of alleles in a population.
Overall, small populations are more susceptible to genetic drift due to their reduced genetic variation and the impact of random events on allele frequencies. Genetic drift tends to reduce the genetic diversity over time, and this can lead to a decrease in heterozygosity and an increased chance of allele fixation or loss.