Question

Elephant population numbers have decreased significantly in the recent history due to hunting and habitat destruction. Which of the following is likely to be true of the current elephant population when compared the ancestral populations?

• A. The current population is expected to be faster.
• B. The current population is expected to have a more intricate social structure.
• C. The current population is expected to have larger tusks.
• D. The current population is expected to have less genetic diversity.

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

The current population is expected to have less genetic diversity.

Genetic diversity is the total number of genetic characters present within a species. Elephant population numbers have decreased significantly in the recent history due to hunting and habitat destruction. Due to lesser number of elephants, the genetic diversity within the current population will be less as compared to ancestral population which was having large number of elephants.

Thus, the correct answer is 'The current population is expected to have less genetic diversity.'