Relevance of evolution: conservation: . Inbreeding depression. In a small population, matings between relatives are common. This inbreeding may lower the population’s ability to survive and reproduce, a phenomenon called inbreeding depression. For example, a population of 40 adders (Vipera berus, shown at right) experienced inbreeding depression when farming activities in Sweden isolated them …
https://evolution.berkeley.edu/evolibrary/article/conservation_03