🤯 Did You Know (click to read)
Effective population size is often much lower than total population size in endangered species.
Effective population size measures how many individuals contribute genetically to the next generation. In fragmented and slow-reproducing species like the Tapanuli orangutan, effective population size can be significantly lower than total numbers. With fewer than 800 individuals overall, not all are breeding simultaneously. Skewed sex ratios or isolated subgroups reduce genetic contributors further. Smaller effective populations are more vulnerable to inbreeding and genetic drift. Over time, this can erode adaptive capacity. The distinction between census size and genetic size is critical in conservation biology. For this species, both numbers are alarmingly small.
💥 Impact (click to read)
A population of 800 might sound larger than it is. If only a fraction breed, the evolutionary engine slows dramatically. Genetic drift can fix harmful mutations in small groups. Adaptive potential narrows with each generation. The apparent cushion of numbers dissolves under genetic scrutiny. Risk intensifies beneath the surface.
Conservation strategies aim to maintain connectivity precisely to protect effective population size. Preserving breeding opportunities across forest blocks strengthens resilience. The Tapanuli orangutan’s genetic future depends not just on survival, but on reproductive diversity. Headcounts alone do not capture extinction vulnerability. Genetic mathematics reveal deeper fragility.
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