Which of the following life history traits can potentially influence effective population size (Ne)?
A) maturation age
B) genetic relatedness among individuals in a population
C) family and population size
D) gene flow between geographically separated populations
E) All of the options are correct.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

All of the life history traits listed can potentially influence effective population size (Ne). Maturation age can affect the breeding success of individuals and thus impact the number of offspring they produce. Genetic relatedness among individuals can affect the degree of inbreeding and ultimately influence Ne. Family and population size can directly impact the number of potential mates and genetic diversity within a population, both of which can affect Ne. Gene flow between geographically separated populations can introduce new genetic variation and can also prevent genetic drift from reducing Ne.

Which of the Following Life History Traits Can Potentially Influence