A very small population of a species faces a greater threat of extinction than a larger population. Provide a suitable genetic explanation.
Solution:
A very small population of a species faces a greater threat of extinction than a larger population because of the following reasons:
1. Small population promotes inbreeding.
Production of offspring from the mating or breeding of individuals or organisms that are closely related genetically, is
known as inbreeding.
2. Small population is helpless against abrupt change in climate. Because of genetic drift, odds of species with small
population may wipe out.
3. Small population gets reproductively isolated so no exchange of genes, that would lead to less variations.