conservation genetics

Question 1

conservation of endangered species

Answer 1

• in situ, by conserving entire habitat
• ex situ, by translocating population to a new area (greater control over population, but expensive, small population size, animals may adapt to captivity)

Question 2

genetic contributors to extinction

Answer 2

• inbreeding depression
• outbreeding depression
• loss of genetic diversity
• accumulation of deleterious mutations
• adaptation to captivity

Question 3

inbreeding depression

Answer 3

• inbreeding increases probability of homozygosity for harmful deleterious alleles
• most deleterious alleles are recessive and closely related parents share alleles

Question 4

inbreeding

Answer 4

• breeding between closely related individuals
• more likely to occur in small populations, where there is high reproductive variance or where the sex ratio is skewed

Question 5

outbreeding depression

Answer 5

• parents from different populations/sub-species produce offspring with reduced fitness
• breakdown of local adaptation, offspring not suited to either area
• alleles not compatible, e.g. multiple alleles working together for species mimicry

Question 6

adaptation to captivity

Answer 6

• often used as last resort or to supplement wild population
• natural and artificial selection adapts organism to captivity, reduces likelihood of successful reintroduction
• directed and unconscious artificial selection
• safe and abundant properties of captivity means organisms lose adaptations useful when there are a lack of resources/predators/parasites/diseases