Question

Zoos often loan animals to other zoos for breeding purposes. From an evolutionary standpoint, what is the benefit?

a. It increases the genetic diversity of the zoo's population.
b. It creates a bottleneck effect.
c. It increases the rate of random mutations.
d. New animals increase zoo revenues.
e. It increases the effects of natural selection on the population.

Answer 1

The benefit of zoos loaning animals to other zoos for breeding is the increase in genetic diversity, which helps reduce inbreeding risks and supports population and species conservation.

Step-by-step explanation:

Zoos often loan animals to other zoos for breeding purposes, and from an evolutionary standpoint, the benefit of this practice is that it increases the genetic diversity of the zoo populations. This inter-zoo breeding helps to preserve much of the phenotypic diversity and reduces the risks associated with inbreeding, including the emergence of deleterious recessive mutations that can cause abnormalities and susceptibility to disease. The benefits of population diversity include enhancing the survival of a population in a changing environment and contributing to species conservation.

From an evolutionary standpoint, the benefit of loaning animals to other zoos for breeding purposes is that it increases the genetic diversity of the zoo's population. This helps to preserve phenotypic diversity and reduce the risks associated with inbreeding. By introducing new genetic material, zoos can help prevent the accumulation of deleterious recessive mutations that can cause abnormalities and susceptibility to disease.