Impact of Genetic Diversity on Species Survival
Why?
Species that make up a population that are not
genetically diverse are more susceptible to extinction
because if their environment changes there is no room
for survival of the fittest, just extinction, because
they’re all genetically identical.
California Condors
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA0uLf
NPyuU&feature=player_embedded
California Condors
Most Condors died from lead poisoning, poaching,
and habitat lost, which left only the smaller birds that
had higher immune systems and could adapt to newer
immune systems
However females only lay a single egg every two years
Condors only begin to reproduce when they are 6-8
years old
Black-footed ferret
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjZwtD_
OVzg&feature=player_embedded
Black-footed ferret
Ferrets died from fatal, non-native diseases, leaving
the ones with resistance
Ferrets died from loss of prairie dog prey
Ferrets also died from heavy habitat loss
Ferrets were once declared extinct until a dog retrieved
a dead ferret and were only a dozen at one point in
time
Prairie chickens
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl
ayer_embedded&v=s2_wdMmEupQ
Prairie chickens
Prairie chickens are less diverse
because droughts destroy their food
and make it difficult to provide for
their young chicks
Their chicks also have difficulty with
the exact opposite natural threat,
rains, which wreck havoc on chick
survival
Only the best suited chicks for these
natural threats survive
Prairie chickens are also threatened
by heavy habitat loss, and avoid
nesting because of poor habitat
Corn rust
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38XomX
O4Tog&feature=player_embedded
Corn rust
Corn rusts are a plant disease
that destroys the plants;
leaves, stems, fruits, and seeds
Its composed of tiny
aeciospores which land on the
corn producing pustules, or
uredia
The fungi produce asexual
spores which disperse by
wind, water, or by insect
vectors spreading the
infection
Tasmanian Devil
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWu9zj
0EzC8&feature=player_embedded
Tasmanian Devil
The Tasmanian devil
faces an uphill against a
contagious cancer called
devil facial tumor
disease
Tumors were located in
one devil’s Schwann cell
and has been passed
along ever since
threatening extinction in
30 years
Species with limited genetic diversity are more vulnerable to extinction due to their inability to adapt to environmental changes. Case studies of California Condors, Black-footed Ferrets, Prairie Chickens, and Corn Rust highlight the consequences of genetic homogeneity on population resilience and survival strategies.
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Presentation Transcript
Why? Species that make up a population that are not genetically diverse are more susceptible to extinction because if their environment changes there is no room for survival of the fittest, just extinction, because they re all genetically identical.
California Condors Most Condors died from lead poisoning, poaching, and habitat lost, which left only the smaller birds that had higher immune systems and could adapt to newer immune systems However females only lay a single egg every two years Condors only begin to reproduce when they are 6-8 years old
Black-footed ferret Ferrets died from fatal, non-native diseases, leaving the ones with resistance Ferrets died from loss of prairie dog prey Ferrets also died from heavy habitat loss Ferrets were once declared extinct until a dog retrieved a dead ferret and were only a dozen at one point in time
Prairie chickens Prairie chickens are less diverse because droughts destroy their food and make it difficult to provide for their young chicks Their chicks also have difficulty with the exact opposite natural threat, rains, which wreck havoc on chick survival Only the best suited chicks for these natural threats survive Prairie chickens are also threatened by heavy habitat loss, and avoid nesting because of poor habitat
Corn rust Corn rusts are a plant disease that destroys the plants; leaves, stems, fruits, and seeds Its composed of tiny aeciospores which land on the corn producing pustules, or uredia The fungi produce asexual spores which disperse by wind, water, or by insect vectors spreading the infection
Tasmanian Devil The Tasmanian devil faces an uphill against a contagious cancer called devil facial tumor disease Tumors were located in one devil s Schwann cell and has been passed along ever since threatening extinction in 30 years
