CSI Wildlife

Full Answer Section

   

• Founder effect: The founder effect occurs when a new population is established by a small number of individuals. These individuals may not represent the full genetic diversity of the original population.
• Geographic isolation: When populations are geographically isolated from each other, they cannot interbreed. This prevents the exchange of genes between populations and can lead to genetic drift.

Over time, genetic drift can cause elephant populations to become increasingly different from each other. This is because different mutations will arise in different populations, and these mutations will become more common in some populations than others. The amount of time that has passed since two elephant populations separated from one another is also important. The longer two populations have been separated, the more time there has been for genetic drift to occur. This is why elephant populations that are geographically distant from each other are also more likely to be genetically different from each other. Examples One example of how geographic distance and time affect the relatedness of elephant populations is the separation of African and Asian elephants. African and Asian elephants are thought to have diverged from a common ancestor around 7 million years ago. During this time, the two populations have become geographically isolated from each other, and they have also experienced different environmental pressures. As a result, African and Asian elephants are now two distinct species. Another example is the separation of forest and savanna elephants in Africa. Forest and savanna elephants are thought to have diverged from a common ancestor around 2 million years ago. During this time, the two populations have become geographically isolated from each other, and they have also adapted to different habitats. As a result, forest and savanna elephants are now two distinct subspecies. Implications for Conservation The understanding of how geographic distance and time affect the relatedness of elephant populations is important for conservation efforts. For example, it is important to maintain corridors between elephant populations so that they can interbreed and exchange genes. This helps to reduce the risk of genetic drift and to maintain the genetic diversity of elephant populations. Additionally, it is important to protect elephant populations from fragmentation. Fragmentation occurs when elephant habitats are divided into smaller and more isolated patches. This can lead to genetic drift and to a decrease in the genetic diversity of elephant populations. By understanding how geographic distance and time affect the relatedness of elephant populations, conservationists can develop more effective strategies for protecting these important animals.  

Sample Answer

 

Elephant populations differ from one another because of geographic distance and the length of time since their ancestors separated from one another. This is due to the process of genetic drift, which is a random change in the gene pool of a population over time.

Genetic drift can occur for a number of reasons, including:

• Small population size: When a population is small, there is less genetic diversity. This means that there is a greater chance that certain genes will be lost from the population, while other genes become more common.