Compared to a large mainland population, genetic drift in a small island population is
A)less important because there is less variation with which to work.
B)less important because only a few individuals do all the breeding.
C)more important because of a smaller gene pool.
D)more important because of the absence of competition.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A smaller population on an island means there are fewer individuals contributing to the gene pool, which increases the role of genetic drift. With fewer individuals breeding, there is a greater chance that certain alleles may be lost or become fixed in the population due to chance events, further reducing genetic variation.

Compared to a Large Mainland Population, Genetic Drift in a Small