An earthquake decimates a bandicoot population, killing 98% of the bandicoots. The surviving population happens to have broader stripes, on average, than the initial population. If broadness of stripes is genetically determined, what effect has the bandicoot population experienced during the earthquake?
A) directional selection
B) disruptive selection
C) a founder event
D) a genetic bottleneck

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The earthquake has caused a drastic reduction in the population, leading to a genetic bottleneck. This means that the surviving population has a smaller gene pool, which may result in the random loss of certain genetic variations, including those controlling stripe broadness. The fact that the surviving population has broader stripes, on average, suggests that the surviving individuals may have had a genetic predisposition for wider stripes or that broader stripes provided a survival advantage in the post-earthquake environment. However, this does not necessarily indicate directional or disruptive selection or a founder event.

An Earthquake Decimates a Bandicoot Population, Killing 98% of the Bandicoots