Question

a high population of greater prairie chickens once inhabited the prairies of illinois. the conversion of the prairies into agricultural land caused the chickens to lose their habitat. studies have concluded that this change greatly reduced the greater prairie chicken population. the habitat loss also resulted in a decrease in the populations genetic variation. which change in the gene pool occurred in the greater prairie chicken population? \bigcirc gene mutation \bigcirc gene flow \bigcirc genetic drift \bigcirc genetic resistance

Explanation:

1. Analyze each option:

• Gene mutation: Involves changes in DNA sequences, not directly related to habitat - loss - induced population change in genetic variation here.
• Gene flow: Is the transfer of genes between populations, which is not the case as the problem is about a single population's genetic change due to habitat loss.
• Genetic drift: Occurs when the gene pool of a population changes due to random events, and a drastic reduction in population size (like due to habitat loss) can lead to a bottleneck effect, a type of genetic drift, which reduces genetic variation.
• Genetic resistance: Refers to a population's ability to resist certain factors, not related to the change in gene pool due to habitat loss here.

1. Conclusion: The habitat loss - induced population reduction and decrease in genetic variation is consistent with genetic drift.

Answer:

genetic drift (the option "genetic drift")