Which term describes a change in allele frequencies due to the migration of a small subgroup?

The founder effect refers to a change in allele frequencies that occurs when a small subgroup of a larger population migrates to a new area and establishes a new population. This small group may carry only a limited number of alleles from the original population, thus the genetic diversity of the new population can be quite different from that of the original population.

When the small group becomes isolated, it tends to reproduce within itself, which may lead to the prevalence of certain alleles, especially if the original population had a wide variety of alleles that are not represented in this new subgroup. Consequently, the resulting population can exhibit distinct genetic traits and a limited gene pool, demonstrating the impact of this migration on allele frequencies. This phenomenon is particularly significant in conservation biology and studies of population genetics, as it can lead to increased susceptibility to environmental changes or diseases due to reduced genetic diversity.