Final answer:
Conservation managers buy corridors to link larger preserves with the goal to maintain or increase genetic diversity, facilitate gene flow, and promote species survival by mimicking larger ecosystems. Linked networks create a stable environment by ensuring adaptability and genetic health of wildlife populations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Genetic Goals in Habitat Corridors
Conservation managers who attempt to link larger preserves into networks by purchasingcorridors of undeveloped habitat are aiming to achieve multiple genetic goals. A primary objective is to maintain or increase genetic diversity among wildlife populations. This biodiversity is vital as it provides resilience against diseases, ensures a greater range of adaptive traits for changing environments, and enhances the likelihood of species survival.
Large-scale conservation corridors, such as "Yellowstone to Yukon" and the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, exemplify this approach. Contrary to isolated habitats, which can lead to inbreeding and genetic stagnation, corridors facilitate gene flow and movement of species between habitats. This exchange is not only crucial for the genetic health of populations but also promotes ecological stability and adaptability.
The concept of island biogeography suggests that larger preserves support more species and provide a more complex range of habitats, or niches, which offer space for more biodiversity. To mimic these effects in smaller preserves, the creation of corridors becomes essential. The presence of partially protected buffer zones around these preserves further augments their effectiveness by providing an additional layer of habitat that secures both the preserves and their associated corridors.