A population of 8,250 mice occupies the sand dunes in a coastal area. A severe hurricane washes out several miles of sand dunes. As a result, only 50 mice remain. The population has experienced

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The drastic reduction in population size due to the loss of habitat caused by the hurricane represents a bottleneck event. This occurs when a large population is reduced to a very small number, leading to a loss of genetic diversity and potentially negative effects on the survival and adaptability of the population. In this case, the surviving population of 50 mice may have a reduced ability to cope with environmental challenges or changes.

A Population of 8,250 Mice Occupies the Sand Dunes in a Coastal