Question

The whooping crane is North America’s tallest bird, standing 5 feet (1.5 m) tall and having a wingspan of 7 to 8 feet (2.2 to 2.4 m). It is estimated that prior to European settlement of North America, there were at least 10,000 whooping cranes. As a result of over-hunting and habitat destruction, by 1941 there were only 23 whooping cranes left. Since then, due to intense conservation efforts, numbers have increased to about 800 birds. Is there any reason to still be concerned about the population genetics of this species? Explain why or why not.

Answer 1

The population genetics is the study of genetic variation within and among a population. Hardy-Weinberg Law says that to maintain a good population genetics inside a group or species is need to have a large size of individuals, the mating must be random, as well as the mutation, selection and migration inside the species be a negligible variable. In the case of Whooping cranes, it is still necessary to be concerned with the population genetics, since their habitat is reduced an the number of individuals is still low compared to the original. Of course, it is a situation much better than in 1941, however it is necessary to maintain the conservation efforts and measurements to make possible that those birds live in the best possible condictions.