🤯 Did You Know (click to read)
Harpy Eagles are sparsely distributed across large territories, increasing sensitivity to fragmentation.
Harpy Eagles exist at naturally low population densities, making genetic connectivity especially important. When forests fragment into isolated patches, movement between populations declines. Reduced gene flow can increase the risk of inbreeding over time. Genetic diversity is critical for resilience against disease and environmental change. If dispersing juveniles cannot traverse altered landscapes, isolated groups may gradually lose variability. Fragmentation thus operates not only spatially but genetically. Long-term viability depends on connected habitat networks.
💥 Impact (click to read)
Genetic bottlenecks can occur silently, without immediate visible decline. Populations may appear stable while diversity erodes. Reduced variability limits adaptive potential in changing climates. For a species already breeding slowly, recovery from genetic setbacks is prolonged.
Maintaining biological corridors between forest reserves is essential for sustaining gene flow. International cooperation becomes critical where habitats span multiple countries. The survival of the Harpy Eagle hinges not only on trees and prey but on invisible strands of DNA moving across landscapes. Break those connections, and resilience fades.
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