Low population size is probably the single best predictor of extinction risk. Why are small populations generally at much greater risk of extinction than larger populations?

Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)
11th Edition
ISBN:9780134580999
Author:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn
Publisher:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn
Chapter1: The Human Body: An Orientation
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1RQ: The correct sequence of levels forming the structural hierarchy is A. (a) organ, organ system,...
icon
Related questions
Question
100%
  1. Low population size is probably the single best predictor of extinction risk. Why are small populations generally at much greater risk of extinction than larger populations? 

 

 

Expert Solution
Step 1

Extinction is the removal of a kind of species or an organism.Extinction involves the death of last individual species.Extinction of species occurs when they are not able to survive in unfavourable conditions.Mass extinction occurs very rarely and isolation extinction is more frequent.

Step 2

Answer;

Small population has more tendency to lose genetic diversity at a fast rate, as compared to larger sizes population because of stochastic sampling error or genetic drift.Some version of a gene can be easily lost because of random chance in small population as compared to large population.

Effect of stochastic variation in demographic rates is more for small population.Stochastic variations leads to fluctuation in size of population.Smaller the population more is the probability that fluctuation will result in extinction.

steps

Step by step

Solved in 3 steps

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Conservation Biology
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, biology and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
Recommended textbooks for you
Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)
Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)
Biology
ISBN:
9780134580999
Author:
Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. Hoehn
Publisher:
PEARSON
Biology 2e
Biology 2e
Biology
ISBN:
9781947172517
Author:
Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi, Mary Ann Clark
Publisher:
OpenStax
Anatomy & Physiology
Anatomy & Physiology
Biology
ISBN:
9781259398629
Author:
McKinley, Michael P., O'loughlin, Valerie Dean, Bidle, Theresa Stouter
Publisher:
Mcgraw Hill Education,
Molecular Biology of the Cell (Sixth Edition)
Molecular Biology of the Cell (Sixth Edition)
Biology
ISBN:
9780815344322
Author:
Bruce Alberts, Alexander D. Johnson, Julian Lewis, David Morgan, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts, Peter Walter
Publisher:
W. W. Norton & Company
Laboratory Manual For Human Anatomy & Physiology
Laboratory Manual For Human Anatomy & Physiology
Biology
ISBN:
9781260159363
Author:
Martin, Terry R., Prentice-craver, Cynthia
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Publishing Co.
Inquiry Into Life (16th Edition)
Inquiry Into Life (16th Edition)
Biology
ISBN:
9781260231700
Author:
Sylvia S. Mader, Michael Windelspecht
Publisher:
McGraw Hill Education