What results from the founder effect?

The founder effect occurs when a small number of individuals from a larger population establish a new population in a different location. This small group may not represent the genetic diversity of the original population, leading to a limited gene pool. As a result, the new population can exhibit significantly reduced genetic diversity compared to the source population. This genetic drift can result in unique alleles becoming more common or even fixed in the new population, further accentuating the differences between the two groups.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately describe the founder effect. Random mating refers to interbreeding within a larger population that maintains genetic diversity, which does not apply to the scenario of a small founder population. Increased survival rates among diverse populations would not directly result from the founder effect, as a lack of genetic variation could actually lead to vulnerabilities. Speciation due to environmental adaptations describes a different process entirely; it involves long-term changes in response to selective pressures rather than the immediate genetic consequences of a small founding group.