Population bottlenecks occur when
A) a large number of genetically diverse individuals found a new population.
B) population size dramatically increases.
C) a consistently large population experiences a brief period of small size.
D) inbreeding is high.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Population bottlenecks occur when a consistently large population experiences a brief period of small size. This can result in reduced genetic diversity and an increased risk of inbreeding. Option A describes a founder effect, not a bottleneck. Option B is not related to bottlenecks. Option D may be a consequence of a bottleneck but does not describe the event itself.

Population Bottlenecks Occur When