Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Genetics of lions changing with habitat fragmentation



     In this article, it compares the DNA of lions today with a lion population 100 years ago. The information provided is based on the genetic material in the lion population today, and while it is still diverse for the time being, it is comparatively difference with regards to 100 years ago. The lions natural behavior, males travel large distances in order to breed and females usually reside within the pride they are born into. With constant fragmentation of the habitat the lions are not able to travel the large distances, and ultimately breed within the pride and the genetic material will start to deteriorate with regards to diversity. While the information is bad in terms of wild lion population it can provide and interesting opportunity for genetic drift with regards to wild predator populations and possibly the effect of the limited genetic material to really do to these populations over time. 

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201103172611.htm

https://academic.oup.com/mbe/advance-article/doi/10.1093/molbev/msa

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