What is a significant outcome of lower adaptive potential in a population?

A significant outcome of lower adaptive potential in a population is greater vulnerability to selection pressures. When a population has lower adaptive potential, it means that its genetic diversity is limited, which restricts the range of traits that may help individuals survive and reproduce in changing environments. This diminished ability to adapt means that the population is less likely to possess the necessary variations to cope with challenges such as climate change, disease outbreaks, or habitat destruction. Consequently, as environmental conditions fluctuate, such populations face a higher risk of decline or extinction because they lack the traits that could confer a survival advantage under new circumstances. This underscores the importance of genetic diversity in enhancing a population's resilience and ability to respond to natural selection.