Question

Florida panthers were once common but during the 20th century their numbers fell to as few as 6 individuals. Which of the following processes has likely affected them as a result of this history?

1) a higher mutation rate
2) stronger natural selection
3) a genetic bottleneck
4) Hardy-Weinberg equiLiBrium
5) all of the above

Answer 1

The decline of Florida panthers is likely due to a genetic bottleneck, habitat loss, and altered disturbance regimes.

Step-by-step explanation:

Florida panthers have experienced a significant decline in their population, with numbers dropping to as few as six individuals by the 20th century. This decline can be attributed to a genetic bottleneck. A genetic bottleneck occurs when a large portion of a population is drastically reduced, leading to a loss of genetic diversity. This can have negative effects on the population's ability to adapt to changing environments and increase their vulnerability to diseases and other threats.

Additionally, other processes may have also affected the Florida panthers due to their history. For example, habitat loss, logging, and altered disturbance regimes can modify the quality of habitats and impact population growth. These factors, combined with the genetic bottleneck, have contributed to the decline of the Florida panther population.

Therefore, the likely process that has affected the Florida panthers as a result of their history is a genetic bottleneck, as well as other factors such as habitat loss and altered disturbance regimes.