their small population size and lack of genetic diversity. With fewer individuals, there is a decreased likelihood of having genetic variations that could help some individuals survive the disease or environmental change. This lack of genetic diversity also means that the population is more susceptible to inbreeding, which can further reduce the health and fitness of the cheetahs.
In addition, the cheetah's habitat is also under threat from human activities such as habitat destruction, fragmentation, and poaching. This further diminishes their chances of survival in the face of challenges such as disease outbreaks and environmental changes.
Overall, the combination of a small population size, limited genetic diversity, and human-induced threats puts the cheetah population at a higher risk of extinction when faced with threats such as disease outbreaks or environmental changes. Conservation efforts are crucial to protect this vulnerable species and ensure their survival in the future.
The cheetah population becomes less likely to survive an outbreak of a disease or an environmental change, increasing the chance of species extinction. This is the result of
5 answers
Natural selection, genetic drift, gene flow, mutation or mating preference?
Natural selection, genetic drift, and mutation all play a role in the decreased likelihood of survival for the cheetah population in the face of disease outbreaks or environmental changes.
Natural selection refers to the process by which individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on those traits to future generations. In the case of the cheetah population, their limited genetic diversity means that there are fewer advantageous traits available to help some individuals survive the threats they face.
Genetic drift is the random change in allele frequencies within a population, which can occur more frequently in small populations. In the case of cheetahs, their small population size means that genetic drift can have a greater impact, leading to the loss of potentially beneficial genetic variations that could help them survive diseases or environmental changes.
Mutation is the source of all genetic variation and can introduce new traits into a population. However, the rate of mutation is relatively low, and in the case of cheetahs, their small population size and limited genetic diversity mean that beneficial mutations are less likely to occur and spread throughout the population.
Gene flow, on the other hand, refers to the exchange of genetic material between populations, which can introduce new genetic variations and increase genetic diversity. However, the cheetah population is already isolated and fragmented, limiting the potential for gene flow to help them combat threats like disease outbreaks or environmental changes.
Mating preference, while not directly related to the decreased likelihood of survival for the cheetah population in the face of disease outbreaks or environmental changes, can also play a role in shaping genetic diversity within a population. If individuals consistently prefer to mate with certain traits, this can impact the genetic makeup of the population over time.
Natural selection refers to the process by which individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on those traits to future generations. In the case of the cheetah population, their limited genetic diversity means that there are fewer advantageous traits available to help some individuals survive the threats they face.
Genetic drift is the random change in allele frequencies within a population, which can occur more frequently in small populations. In the case of cheetahs, their small population size means that genetic drift can have a greater impact, leading to the loss of potentially beneficial genetic variations that could help them survive diseases or environmental changes.
Mutation is the source of all genetic variation and can introduce new traits into a population. However, the rate of mutation is relatively low, and in the case of cheetahs, their small population size and limited genetic diversity mean that beneficial mutations are less likely to occur and spread throughout the population.
Gene flow, on the other hand, refers to the exchange of genetic material between populations, which can introduce new genetic variations and increase genetic diversity. However, the cheetah population is already isolated and fragmented, limiting the potential for gene flow to help them combat threats like disease outbreaks or environmental changes.
Mating preference, while not directly related to the decreased likelihood of survival for the cheetah population in the face of disease outbreaks or environmental changes, can also play a role in shaping genetic diversity within a population. If individuals consistently prefer to mate with certain traits, this can impact the genetic makeup of the population over time.
Only one
Of the options provided, natural selection is the most directly related factor to the decreased likelihood of survival for the cheetah population in the face of disease outbreaks or environmental changes. Natural selection is the process by which individuals with advantageous traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing on those traits to future generations. In the case of the cheetah population with limited genetic diversity, natural selection is critical in determining which individuals are better equipped to survive the threats they face. Individuals with beneficial traits that help them withstand disease outbreaks or environmental changes are more likely to survive and pass on those traits, thus increasing the overall survival chances of the population.