What is one consequence of the bottleneck effect?

The bottleneck effect occurs when a population experiences a dramatic reduction in size due to environmental events, such as natural disasters, habitat loss, or significant human impact. This reduction in population size can severely limit the genetic diversity of the remaining individuals. As a result, the gene pool is narrowed, which leads to a loss of genetic variation.

When genetic variation is diminished, the population may become more susceptible to diseases, environmental changes, and other challenges since there are fewer genetic traits for natural selection to act upon. Over time, this reduced genetic diversity can lead to inbreeding and a decline in the overall health and adaptability of the population. Thus, the consequence of the bottleneck effect is primarily the loss of genetic variation, highlighting the vulnerability endowed by such dramatic population fluctuations.