🤯 Did You Know (click to read)
Genetic diversity is often highest in large, well-connected wildlife populations.
When populations decline sharply, genetic diversity can contract in what scientists call a bottleneck. Sumatran orangutans already exist in fragmented subpopulations separated by agriculture and roads. Reduced gene flow increases the likelihood of inbreeding over generations. Loss of rare genetic variants can limit future adaptability to disease or climate change. Even if numbers stabilize, diminished diversity may persist for centuries. Conservation genetics aims to maintain connectivity between forest blocks. Evolutionary resilience depends on preserving variation today.
💥 Impact (click to read)
Small populations are more vulnerable to random events such as storms or disease outbreaks. Inbreeding can reduce fertility and increase susceptibility to illness. Genetic monitoring programs now complement habitat protection efforts. Corridors and managed translocations are sometimes considered to enhance gene flow. Each lost lineage narrows adaptive capacity. Evolution cannot compensate quickly for sustained fragmentation.
Long-term species survival requires not only preventing extinction but safeguarding evolutionary potential. Climate projections suggest future environments will differ from past conditions. Genetic flexibility increases the odds of persistence through change. Protecting multiple connected populations reduces bottleneck risk. The genetic future of the species is shaped by land-use decisions made today.
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