If the environment changes, the species runs the risk of not having the genetic diversity to be adaptable to that change and could go extinct
Genetic diversity is the diversity or genetic variability within species
The huge variety of different gene sets defines an individual or a whole population's ability to tolerate stress from any given environmental factor
While some individuals might be able to tolerate an increased load of pollutants in their environment, others carrying different genes might suffer from infertility or even die under the exact same environmental conditions;the former will continue to live in the environment the latter will either have to leave it or die
Any change in the environment - natural or human induced causes a selection of events that only the fittest survive
In case of elephant seals,overhunting reduces the sum of genes available,thus leaving behind a population that is less capable of tolerating any further natural or human disturbances in environment
The loss of genetic diversity within a species can result in the loss of useful and desirable traits
