A small population of wallabies lives on an island that was once connected to the mainland. Over many generations, several alleles have completely disappeared from the island population, although they are still present on the mainland. If the gene locus we were investigating contributed to the wallabies' efficient use of a particular food resource, the alleles may have disappeared from the island population due to

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The disappearance of alleles from the island population of wallabies, especially if those alleles were related to the efficient use of a particular food resource, is most likely due to selection. Natural selection would favor individuals with alleles that are advantageous in the island's specific environment, leading to the disappearance of less advantageous alleles over time.

A Small Population of Wallabies Lives on an Island That