Question

Florida Panthers are an endangered species. Because the remaining population of Florida Panthers is quite small and fairly closely related, there are concerns that there is not enough genetic variability within the population. How does greater genetic variability within the population affect the Florida Panthers' reproductive success?

A. It reduces the need to keep Florida Panthers alive in captivity.
B. It increases the rate of mutations that create helpful adaptations.
C. It reduces the expansion of harmful traits that result from inbreeding.
D. It increases the chance that the Florida Panther will be able to survive sea level rise.

Answer 1

The answer is C. Due to the small population, there is a high likelihood of incest between the individuals. offspring have a higher possibility of congenital birth defects because it increases the proportion of zygotes that are homozygous for deleterious recessive alleles that produce such disorders.

Answer 2

C. It reduces the expansion of harmful traits that result from inbreeding. Since the population of the Florida panther is quite small, it resulted in inbreeding. Inbreeding caused health problems and reduced reproductive capabilities in the Florida panther. The males have low sperm count and poor sperm quality. They are more susceptible to diseases and parasites and heart problems.