Conservation in Genetics 2.

Question 1

Why conserve genetic diversity

Answer 1

Biodiversity is the variety of life, including all genes, species and ecosystems, and the ecological processes of which they are part of.

Question 2

Direct benefits of genetic diversity include

Answer 2

food, medicine, clothing, building supplies, shelter, 40% of perscription & non-perscription drugs have ingredients extracted from plants & animals

Question 3

Indirect benefits of genetic diversity

Answer 3

Ecosystem services such as maintain water quality, buffer ecosystems against storms and drought, preserve soils preventing loss of nutrients, mitigate pollution, help the breakdown of organic wastes and cycling minerals.

Question 4

Census population size (N)

Answer 4

Is the number of individuals in the population

Question 5

Effective population size (Ne)

Answer 5

Is the actual number of individuals that successfully contribute to the next generation

Question 6

Why is understanding genetic diversity important in conserving small and declining populations of endangered species.

Answer 6

• Reduction in reproductive fitness
• Adaptation and viability
• Re-introduction
• Taxonomic uncertainty
• Invasive Species

Question 7

Examples of natural pressures to a population

Answer 7

Sudden climatic events or diseases

Question 8

Examples of an anthropogenic pressure to a population

Answer 8

overharvesting or habitat degradation/loss

Question 9

What is genetic drift

Answer 9

Drastic reduction in population size can lead o significant losses of genetic diversity.
In turn, small populations can lose genetic variability faster than large populations due to genetic drift.

Question 10

Drift can override natural selection leading to:

Answer 10

Loss of adaptive potential.
Divergence of populations in fragmented habitat.
Fixation of deleterious alleles.

Question 11

What is Population Bottleneck

Answer 11

Is a drastic reduction in effective population size leading to a significant loss of genetic variability.

Question 12

Founder Event is…

Answer 12

A variant of bottleneck event except that it is directly related to a colonization event by a small number of individuals.

Question 13

Causes of Genetic Bottleneck

Answer 13

Natural (unusual or catastrophic events such as floods, storms, ice melt/cover, disease outbreaks) or anthropogenic (habitat loss, overharvesting, competition with introduced non-native species,

Question 14

Consequences of genetic bottleneck

Answer 14

Reduced gene pool, inbreeding, loss of adaptive potential, loss of competitive advantage BUT may
lead to some positive effects such as loss of rare deleterious alleles and positive selection (if bottleneck
event was selective and not random).

Question 15

What is the Founder effect

Answer 15

Founder effects are known to drive the genetic structure of passively dispersed aquatic invertebrates (e.g. water fleas, Daphnia spp)
Evident in plant and animal populations that recolonize an area where life was wiped out e.g. Krakatoa volcano

Question 16

Inbreeding is defined by

Answer 16

The mating among relatives.
Expected to happen small populations.

Question 17

Inbreeding results in:

Answer 17

Increased homozygosity leading to inbreeding depression.
- reduced fecundity
- reduced size, growth, survival of offspring
- increased frequency of deformities

Question 18

Non Indigenous Invasive Species (NIS) are…

Answer 18

organisms that have been introduced outside their natural distribution range by means of anthropogenic activities (e.g. transportation, food, tourism)

Question 19

Invasive Alien Species (IAS)

Answer 19

are NIS that have an adverse effect on ecosystems and/or people.

Question 20

What annual cost does invasive species have to irelands economy

Answer 20

A 2013 review estimated an annual cost of invasive
species to the Irish economy of €202,894,406; and to the UK economy of €2.3 billion

Question 21

Among the most important impacts of the introduction and spread of invasive species are:

Answer 21

• Loss of (native) biodiversity
• Environmental degradation and ecosystem services
• Human health
• Financial costs