If the sex ratio in a population is significantly different from 50:50, then which of the following statements will always be accurate?
A) The population will enter the extinction vortex.
B) The genetic variation in the population will increase over time.
C) Modeling of the minimum viable population size will underestimate the actual population size.
D) The effective population size will be less than the actual population size.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The effective population size is a concept used in population genetics to measure the genetic diversity of a population. It is often less than the actual population size, especially in populations with a skewed sex ratio, because not all individuals contribute equally to the gene pool. A significantly different sex ratio from 50:50 means that one sex is underrepresented, leading to fewer breeding pairs and a decrease in genetic diversity over time. This does not necessarily mean the population will enter an extinction vortex (A), increase genetic variation (B), or that models will underestimate the actual population size (C).

If the Sex Ratio in a Population Is Significantly Different