Scientists estimate that whaling activity in the 19th and early 20th centuries had reduced the number of adult female southern right whales to as few as sixty individuals by 1920. This reduction resulted in a genetic bottleneck for the species.
Treaties to stop whaling have substantially increased the number of southern right whales. Despite this increase, the bottleneck still threatens the future of the species. Which capacity of the species is MOST severely diminished by the bottleneck?
a. maintaining a healthy social structure
b. responding to environmental changes
