Question

The Florida Panther is the brown and gray species the puma family. For years a small population of the panther lived in the woodlands and swamps of the Southest portion of Florida with no changes. How will genetic drift probably affect this population?
a
It will reduce genetic diversity
b
It will accelerate the appearance of new traits?
c
It will promote the survival of panthers with beneficial traits.
d
It will increase the number of alleles for specific traits.

Answer 1

The correct answer is - a. It will reduce genetic diversity.

The pumas that live in Florida, also known as the Florida Panthers, will have a much reduced genetic diversity. The reason for this is that the population is very small. It also lives in the same area, where the living conditions are the same. The genetic pool is very small, and the breeding is going on between individuals that have the same traits, and are also relatively closely related, as the mating occurs between the second or third generation that came out form the same parents. That will result in a very reduced genetic diversity, so the Florida Panther will remain the same if the conditions do not change drastically, or these an invasion of pumas from the west into their territory.