Changes in the gene pool can occur due to various mechanisms in 1989 a large oil spill occurred in prince william sound, alaska, when the exxon valdez oil tanker ran aground. approximately 11 million gallons of oil were spilled and spread 1,300 miles along the alaskan coastline. the damage from the oil spill affected thousands of animals in the area including killer whales harbor seals sea otters fish and sea birds which mechanism most likely affected the gene pools of the organism populations in the areas around the oil spill?

a) genetic drift

b) gene flow

c) gene mutation

d) genetic variat