Chapter 54, Problem 16TYK

Summary Introduction

To review:

The agent of evolution expected to influence allele frequencies in a relatively small population typical of top predators, and the long-term evolutionary effects of small population size.

Introduction:

Hardy–Weinberg principle explains that diploid organisms, under certain conditions, achieve genetic equilibrium, at which the allele frequencies of the population do not change in succeeding generations.

However, if the conditions are not fulfilled, then allele frequencies change and cause evolutionary changes. Mutation, gene flow, genetic drift, natural selection, and nonrandom mating are the agents that cause these changes.