Question

because cheetahs, acinonyx jubatus, experienced a bottleneck event about ten thousand years ago, living cheetahs exhibit very little genetic variation compared to other living species of large cats. which of the following principles best justifies a claim that cheetahs, compared to other large cats, have a relatively low resilience to environmental perturbations?
a a captive population of cheetahs kept in a confined area will have a greater risk of contracting and passing on a virus.
b when a population is reduced, new niches become available in the environment, which can trigger adaptive radiation.
c populations with little genetic diversity are less likely to contain individuals that can withstand different selective pressures.
d populations with low genetic diversity are more likely to contain individuals that can withstand different selective pressures.

Explanation:

To determine the correct answer, we analyze each option:

• Option A: Talks about captive cheetahs and virus risk, which is about disease spread in captivity, not general environmental resilience. Irrelevant to the claim.
• Option B: Discusses adaptive radiation after population reduction, which is about new species formation, not resilience to environmental perturbations. Not relevant.
• Option C: States that low genetic diversity means fewer individuals can withstand different selective pressures (environmental changes). Since cheetahs have low genetic variation, this explains their low resilience. Correct.
• Option D: Contradicts the concept; low genetic diversity should mean fewer individuals can withstand pressures, not more. Incorrect.

Answer:

C. Populations with little genetic diversity are less likely to contain individuals that can withstand different selective pressures.