In cases of gene swamping, how might a population's adaptive capabilities be affected?

In cases of gene swamping, a population's adaptive capabilities may be compromised due to the introduction of alleles from a different population that is less suited to the local environment. Gene swamping occurs when an influx of genes from a neighboring population dilutes the alleles that are specifically adapted to the local conditions. This dilution can lead to a decrease in the population's overall fitness because the unique adaptations that the local population had developed to thrive in its specific environment may be lost or masked by the maladaptive genes from the other population.

When local adaptations—traits that have evolved to enhance survival and reproduction in a specific environment—are weakened by the mixing of genes, the population might struggle to cope with the specific pressures of its habitat (like disease, climate, or resource scarcity). As a result, the population's ability to survive and reproduce effectively in its environment diminishes, leading to reduced adaptability. Therefore, the assertion that the population may become less adaptable to local conditions accurately captures the consequences of gene swamping on adaptive capabilities.