7.11 Variations in Populations

Explain how the genetic diversity of a species or population affects its ability to withstand environmental pressures.

• The level of variation in a population affects population dynamics.
  • i. The ability of a population to respond to changes in the envir onment is influenced by genetic diversity. Species and populations with little genetic diversity are at risk of decline or extinction.
  • ii. Genetically diverse populations are more resilient t o environmental perturbation because they are more likely to contain individuals that can withstand the environmental pressure.
  • iii. Alleles that are adaptive in one envir onmental condition may be deleterious in another because of different selective pressures.