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Chapter 27: Problem 19

Describe what happens to allele frequencies as a result of the bottleneck effect. Discuss the relevance of this effect with regard to species that are approaching extinction.

Short Answer

Expert verified
The bottleneck effect refers to a sharp reduction in population size due to environmental events or human activities, leading to a change in allele frequencies and reduced genetic diversity. This effect is particularly impactful on species approaching extinction, as reduced genetic diversity makes them less adaptable to environmental changes, increasing extinction chances.

Step by step solution

01

Understanding the Bottleneck Effect

The bottleneck effect is a sharp reduction in the size of a population due to environmental events such as famines, earthquakes, floods, or fires, or human activities such as species hunting. When the population size reduces, its genetic diversity also shrinks, leading to a change in the gene pool. Notably, the change in gene frequency depends on which organisms survive the event causing the reduction.
02

Explaining the Effect on Allele Frequencies

This event significantly affects the allele frequencies in the population. The surviving population has a reduced genetic variability. Since the survivors are a random sample of the original population, there is a large chance for the genetic drift to occur, which makes genetic diversity reduce even more importantly. Hence, the allele frequencies within the population change.
03

Relating to Species Approaching Extinction

This effect is especially relevant to species that are approaching extinction because the reduction in genetic diversity makes the species less adaptable to changes in the environment. This increases their chances of becoming extinct because a lack of genetic diversity can reduce the capacity of a species to adapt to changes in the environment and survive. The less diverse a population's gene pool is, the less likely it is that the population will have the genetic capacity to adapt to changing conditions, leading to a higher risk of extinction.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

When two populations frequently intermix due to migration, what are the long- term consequences with regard to allele frequencies and genetic variation?

The term polymorphism can refer to both genes and traits. Explain what is meant by a polymorphic gene and a polymorphic trait. If a gene is polymorphic, does the trait that the gene affects also have to be polymorphic? Explain why or why not.

Two populations of antelope are separated by a mountain range. The antelope are known to occasionally migrate from one population to the other. Migration can occur in either direction. Explain how migration affects the following phenomena: A. Genetic diversity in the two populations B. Allele frequencies in the two populations C. Genetic drift in the two populations

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What is the difference between a neutral and an adaptive evolutionary process? Describe two or more examples of each. At the molecular level, explain how mutations can be neutral or adaptive.
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