Question at position 12 Based on the reading from class on Australia's endangered quolls, these small mammals have suffered declines from various threats, including cane toads, habitat loss, and predation that dramatically reduced local populations. Which of the following is a key genetic risk for these small, endangered quoll populations?Smaller populations are more likely to acquire harmful mutations.Small populations are at risk of suffering from "over selection," where natural selection starts to remove adaptive traits.Small populations are more at risk of genetic drift, which can erode genetic diversity.Increased gene flow from other regions can dilute adaptive traits.Clear my selection单项选择题
A
Smaller populations are more likely to acquire harmful mutations.
B
Small populations are at risk of suffering from "over selection," where natural selection starts to remove adaptive traits.
C
Small populations are more at risk of genetic drift, which can erode genetic diversity.
D
Increased gene flow from other regions can dilute adaptive traits.

Question

Question at position 12 Based on the reading from class on Australia's endangered quolls, these small mammals have suffered declines from various threats, including cane toads, habitat loss, and predation that dramatically reduced local populations. Which of the following is a key genetic risk for these small, endangered quoll populations?Smaller populations are more likely to acquire harmful mutations.Small populations are at risk of suffering from "over selection," where natural selection starts to remove adaptive traits.Small populations are more at risk of genetic drift, which can erode genetic diversity.Increased gene flow from other regions can dilute adaptive traits.Clear my selection单项选择题

A

Smaller populations are more likely to acquire harmful mutations.

B

Small populations are at risk of suffering from "over selection," where natural selection starts to remove adaptive traits.

C

Small populations are more at risk of genetic drift, which can erode genetic diversity.

D

Increased gene flow from other regions can dilute adaptive traits.

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

Question restatement: The reading discusses endangered quolls in Australia and asks for the key genetic risk facing small populations, listing four possible statements.
Option 1: 'Smaller populations are more likely to acquire harmful mutations.' While small populations can accumulate deleterious mutations over time due to reduced efficacy of selection (and processes like Muller's ratchet in asexuals or small diploid populations), this is not the most precise or universally recognized primary genetic risk highlighted for small, endangered populations in population genetics literature. The statement overstates a direct causal link without noting that mutation input is generally constant per generation, and many harmful mutations are already present rather than newly acquired at a higher rate in small populations.
Option 2: 'Small populations are at risk of suffering from "over selection," where natural selection starts to remove adaptive traits.' This term 'over selection' is not a standard or widely accepted concept in population genetics. Natural selection acts on variation; the concern is usually about reduced variation and drift, not a process described as over-selection removing adaptive traits in a maladaptive sense. Thus this option describes an unfamiliar or incorrect mechanism.
Option 3: 'Small populations are more at risk of genetic drift, which can erode genetic diversity.' This is a classic and well-supported risk: in small populations, random fluctuations in allele frequencies (genetic drift) have a stronger effect, leading to loss of alleles and reduced genetic diversity, which can impair adaptive potential and increase extinction risk.
Option 4: 'Increased gene flow from other regions can dilute adaptive traits.' Gene flow can introduce new genetic variation and often enhances adaptability; it is not typically framed as a risk that erodes adaptive traits. In many cases, gene flow helps populations by bringing in beneficial alleles and introducing diversity, unless there are maladaptive introductions, which is a more nuanced scenario not described as a general key genetic risk for small populations.
Synthesis: Among the four statements, the most accurate and foundational genetic risk for small, endangered populations is the heightened impact of genetic drift reducing genetic diversity, which aligns with standard population genetics principles.

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