What is one key factor that can influence the rate of evolutionary change?

Population size is a critical factor influencing the rate of evolutionary change because it impacts genetic variation within a species. In smaller populations, genetic drift can have a more pronounced effect, leading to the rapid loss of genetic diversity and potentially accelerating evolutionary changes as certain traits become fixed or lost over generations. This can also increase vulnerability to environmental changes, as the reduced diversity limits adaptive responses. Larger populations tend to maintain more genetic variation, allowing for a broader range of traits to be naturally selected, facilitating gradual evolutionary changes over time. Additionally, in larger populations, mutations have a greater chance of being preserved or propagated compared to smaller populations where random changes can significantly shift genetic frequencies. This interplay between population size and evolutionary dynamics is pivotal for understanding how species adapt and evolve in response to environmental pressures.