Question

Explain why genetic diversity is important to maintain in captive populations, and

identify ways that zoos can manage captive populations to do so.

Explain why it is important to employ ARTS in captively-bred populations before they become too small / too inbred.

Answer 1

Maintenance of genetic diversity is important in captive populations as it lowers the risk of genetic drift and reduces the chances of inbreeding. Genetic drift and inbreeding are two mechanisms by which the frequency of deleterious alleles rises in small populations. Hence, in order to avoid such conditions, measures should be taken to maintain genetic diversity in a captive population.

In zoos, genetic diversity can be maintained through the trading of animals or their offspring with animals or offspring from other zoos. Another way of maintaining genetic diversity in zoos is artificial insemination. In this regard, most of the reputable zoos all across the globe co-operate closely to get the zoo animals to breed naturally.

Importance of Assisted Reproduction Technology (ART): ART is a procedure usually employed to make the captive populations to breed comfortably and naturally. A number of methods are included in this category such as artificial insemination, cloning, cryopreservation of eggs and sperm and interspecific pregnancy. All these methods are newer technologies and help in increasing the populations of endangered animals. These methods are also used to prevent any harm being inflicted on bigger animals during mating.