The only known population of a reptile species lives on an African mountain. The population is relatively large, but no close relatives of this species are known. Suppose you could stop all mutations within the population and all emigration out of this population. Which statement best describes the probable future of this population?
A) The population will decline and become extinct after a few generations because of excessive inbreeding. B) Evolution will continue as natural selection acts on the genetic variability that exists in the population. C) Although the population will cease to change, it may survive for as long as the environment remains constant. D) Genetic drift will cause major evolutionary changes in the population.
A) chance occurrences alter gene frequencies. B) reproduction is nonrandom within the population. C) gene flow within the population is less than gene flow between populations. D) the population has not yet stabilized.