The loss of heath hens in North America was an example of
A) competitive exclusion.
B) an extinction vortex.
C) a mutualism.
D) the negative effect of heterozygosity on fitness.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The loss of heath hens in North America was an example of an extinction vortex, in which the population size decreases due to environmental and genetic factors, eventually leading to complete extinction. The heath hen population was decimated by hunting and habitat loss, and the remaining individuals had low genetic diversity, which made them more vulnerable to disease and other threats.

The Loss of Heath Hens in North America Was an Example