Cheetahs are a species of cat best known for being the fastest land animal, with the ability to sprint at speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour. Cheetahs have small heads, lean bodies, long legs, and a yellowish-tan coat with distinctive black spots. Cheetahs face extinction pressure from climate change, hunting by humans, and habitat destruction, which is reducing the size of their populations. Predict how these pressures have affected the genetic diversity of cheetahs.

Question

Cheetahs are a species of cat best known for being the fastest land animal, with the ability to sprint at speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour. Cheetahs have small heads, lean bodies, long legs, and a yellowish-tan coat with distinctive black spots. Cheetahs face extinction pressure from climate change, hunting by humans, and habitat destruction, which is reducing the size of their populations. Predict how these pressures have affected the genetic diversity of cheetahs.
Responses

A	Genetic diversity has increased due to the need to survive in changing environments.Genetic diversity has increased due to the need to survive in changing environments.

B	Genetic diversity has decreased due to inbreeding due to dwindling population size.Genetic diversity has decreased due to inbreeding due to dwindling population size.

C	Genetic diversity has increased due to interbreeding with neighboring species.Genetic diversity has increased due to interbreeding with neighboring species.

D	Genetic diversity has decreased due to habitat destruction.

GPT-4o mini · Answer

The most accurate response to the situation described is:

B Genetic diversity has decreased due to inbreeding due to dwindling population size.

Cheetahs are known to have low genetic diversity, which has been exacerbated by population declines resulting from the pressures of climate change, habitat destruction, and human activities. As populations shrink, the likelihood of inbreeding increases, leading to a further decrease in genetic diversity.