Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life (MindTap Course List)
Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life (MindTap Course List)
15th Edition
ISBN: 9781337408332
Author: Cecie Starr, Ralph Taggart, Christine Evers, Lisa Starr
Publisher: Cengage Learning
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Chapter 44, Problem 2CT

Mountain gorillas are a highly endangered primate species, with 800 or so individuals surviving in the two remaining populations. A recent sampling of mountain gorilla genomes revealed a very low level of genetic diversity. Explain why a decline in genetic diversity often accompanies a decline in population size.

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As we saw last week, population size is important. Ideally, this means you started with a lot of genetically diverse founders, but of course that isn’t always the case. In the case of the Española Galapagos tortoises it was 12 females and 2 males. So, often you have to grow your population to stabilize it and ensure there isn’t an unacceptable loss of genetic diversity over time, even if that genetic diversity is low. If you think back to the math from last week and do a little not so fancy algebra, you can see that genetic deterioration occurs at a rate that is the inverse of genetic retention, which you probably remember is  1- (1/2Ne) Assume that the Española Galapagos tortoise captive population started with an Ne/N ratio of 0.7. Calculate their rate of loss of genetic diversity given their original population size of 14 tortoises (N=14). You will first need to solve for Ne, then plug Ne into the rate of loss of genetic diversity formula. Now let’s work on growing the population.…
The current wild population is estimated to be about 50 individuals. However, a new threat to red wolves has arisen: hybridization with coyotes (Canis latrans), which have become more numerous in the areas inhabited by red wolves. Although red wolves and coyotes differ in morphology and DNA, they are capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. Social behavior is the main reproductive barrier between the species and is more easily overcome when same-species mates are rare. For this reason, some people think that the endangered status of the red wolf should be withdrawn and resources should not be spent to protect what is not a “pure” species.
A large conservation agency in Austria is interested in the status of the endangered newt species, Triturus austriacus, and wants you to estimate population sizes. Describe at least two methods based on genetic markers such as microsatellites which could be used to estimate effective population size (NE). Compare their relative advantages and disadvantages.
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