Due to various causes, including DDT poisoning, the population size of whooping cranes was reduced to about a dozen during the 1970s. The population size has since rebounded, and there are now hundreds of whooping cranes. Which of the following would you not expect to see in whooping cranes?
A) Very low levels of genetic variation
B) Very few heterozygous individuals
C) Differences in allele frequency between current populations of cranes and historical populations
D) Considerable genetic polymorphism
E) All of the above would be seen in whooping cranes.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Due to the population bottleneck, it is unlikely that there would be considerable genetic polymorphism in whooping cranes. However, you would expect to see low levels of genetic variation, few heterozygous individuals, and differences in allele frequency between current and historical populations as a result of genetic drift during the population bottleneck.

Due to Various Causes, Including DDT Poisoning, the Population Size