Worldbuilding: Population Bottlenecks, Founder Effect

[aldersprig]

ysabetwordsmith posted an interesting discussion on population bottlenecks.

While the article is rather interesting ("North America was populated by no more than 70 people 14,000 years ago, claims stunning new DNA research"), I find the links to Minimum Viable Population and Population Bottleneck more interesting.

World-building-wise, when discussing the exodus that landed people on Reiassan (as well as in contemplating the blue-haired McAliens in Vas' World), I've had to keep in mind such concepts to be sure the populations are viable. But the Founder Effect gives me some fun grist for my mill...