Two populations of deer, one of them large and living in a mainland forest and the other small and inhabiting a forest on an island, regularly exchange members that migrate across a land bridge that connects the island to the mainland. In which population do you expect to see the greatest allele frequency change? Why?

Key Concepts

Genetic Drift

Genetic drift refers to the random fluctuations in allele frequencies within a population, particularly in small populations. In smaller populations, such as the island deer, random events can lead to significant changes in allele frequencies over generations, potentially resulting in the loss of genetic diversity.

Gene Flow

Gene flow is the transfer of genetic material between populations through migration. In this scenario, the exchange of deer between the mainland and island populations can introduce new alleles to either population, affecting their genetic diversity and allele frequencies. The impact of gene flow is often more pronounced in smaller populations.

Population Size and Allele Frequency Change

The size of a population significantly influences how allele frequencies change over time. Larger populations tend to have more stable allele frequencies due to the buffering effect of a greater number of individuals, while smaller populations are more susceptible to rapid changes in allele frequencies due to genetic drift and the effects of inbreeding.