SOCR 330 Lecture Notes - Effective Population Size, California Condor, Canine Distemper
Document Summary
What happens to the genetics of an endangered species. How threatened and endangered species can be better managed and restored. Loss of genetic diversity reduces future chances of species survival. Enables populations/species to adapt and survive long term environmental changes. Allelic diversity/heterozygosity linked to health and fertility in many species. Reduced to 9 birds by 1987 when remaining individuals captured for breeding program. In 2004 there were 99 wild condors and 147 in captivity. Chondrodystropy (autosomal recessive allele causing lethal dwarfism) present at 0. 09 in gene pool. Small colony discovered in wyoming in 1981 almost wiped out by canine distemper in. 18 surviving ferrets transferred to captive breeding program. Now over 3000 ferrets and reintroduction in progress. All existing ferrets equivalent of full cousins: share 12% of genome in common. Small populations more likely to lose genetic diversity. Effective population size (ne) more crucial than absolute population size (n) Ne indicates how many individuals will contribute to next generation.
