Final answer:
Wild plants and animals maintain genetic variation, which is crucial for their survival and the preservation of domestic species. Genetic diversity helps protect against disease and environmental changes and plays a vital role in crop improvement and food supply.
Step-by-step explanation:
Wild plants and animals maintain a valuable pool of genetic variation, which is important because domestic species are genetically uniform. This puts them at great risk of dying out due to disease. Genetic diversity allows for the presence of different gene variants within a population, increasing the chances of survival in changing environmental conditions or in the face of diseases.
For example, during the Irish potato famine, the reliance on a single potato variety led to mass crop failure when it became susceptible to a potato blight. Maintaining genetic diversity in crops by preserving wild species related to them ensures a continued supply of food and protects against such risks.
Preserving biodiversity and genetic diversity is important for future adaptation and evolution of species, as well as for economic benefits and the sustainable supply of resources.