Question

The northern elephant seal was almost hunted to extinction in the 1800s. By the late 1890s, only about one hundred seals were left, reducing the gene pool of the population. What will most likely result from this gene pool reduction?
A. Competition within the population will increase.

B. Inbreeding will be less frequent among the remaining population.

C. The surviving elephant seals will be better able to adapt.

D. The elephant seals will be more vulnerable to environmental change.

Answer 1

Answer:

D. The elephant seals will be more vulnerable to environmental change.

Explanation:

The reduction in genetic diversity may have deleterious effects because the lack of variability alters the capacity of a population to respond to environmental change