Factors Affecting Genetic Variation Answers

A high population of greater prairie chickens once inhabited the prairies of Illinois. The conversion of the prairies into agricultural land caused the chickens to lose their habitat. Studies have concluded that this change greatly reduced the greater prairie chicken population. The habitat loss also resulted in a decrease in the population’s genetic variation.Which change in the gene pool occurred in the greater prairie chicken population?

Which environmental factor could lead to a decrease in genetic variation in a population of tuna?

A group of students is walking in the park, and one of them takes a picture of a pollen grain that is being blown by the wind. What caption can the student use for this picture?

In a population of seals, most of the seals have similar coloring. However, one seal has albinism. This seal is white and is almost completely blind. What is most likely the cause of this difference from the rest of the population?

A scientist has been tracking and studying a population of deer in Yellowstone National Park. He surveys the population every six months. Usually, the population is thriving and has a gene pool with a wide variety of traits. But during one six-month period, an event occurred that affected the population, and when the scientist returned, the amount of genetic variation had decreased significantly. Which of the following is most likely the event that occurred to change the population?

Genetic drift in a population affects the gene pool in which of the following ways?

Which would most likely result in an increase in genetic variation in a population?

In a few generations, this population of beetles changed. Which is the most likely explanation for the change?

Which of the following best defines gene flow?

A population of birds lives on a small island. Another population of the same species lives on the mainland. The distance between the island and the mainland is too great for birds to fly back and forth. Recently, a series of sandbars and tiny islands have formed between the island and the mainland. What is the most likely effect of this?