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Question #46453
The Question
Habitat loss and fragmentation, the primary driver of the 'Evil Quartet', divides a large, contiguous population of a diploid species into small, isolated patches. If the original population was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, which of the following is the most accurate genetic consequence for these newly isolated subpopulations?
Options
- A.
The frequency of heterozygotes (2pq) will increase as the subpopulations undergo adaptive radiation to survive the fragmented habitat.
- B.
The assumption of a large population size is violated, making the subpopulations highly susceptible to genetic drift and a subsequent decline in the 2pq value due to inbreeding.
- C.
The p² and q² values will remain constant because the cessation of gene flow between patches prevents any change in allele frequencies.
- D.
The subpopulations will immediately establish a new Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium because the absence of gene migration stabilizes the gene pool.
Check Your Answer
Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Evolutionary_Exception
Tackle problems where standard rules evolve or change based on specific environmental constraints.
Concepts Behind This Question
Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium Variables|Evil Quartet Drivers
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: Bridging Ecology (Biodiversity loss) with Population Genetics (Hardy-Weinberg).
Students often memorize the 'Evil Quartet' and 'H-W assumptions' in isolation.
The trap lies in failing to recognize that habitat fragmentation is the exact ecological mechanism that forces a violation of the 'large population' and 'random mating' assumptions of H-W, inevitably leading to genetic drift and a crash in heterozygosity (2pq).
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Evolution - Class 12 |
| Concept | Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium Variables |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |