The Serengeti region of Africa contains a population of cheetahs and a population of lions. Studies have shown that the cheetah population has very low genetic diversity, while the genetic diversity of the lion population is quite high. The cheetah population is also much smaller than the lion population. Both populations are vulnerable to infection with a particular virus that can be fatal in both species. What is the most likely outcome if both populations are infected with this virus?
Answers
Genetic diversity is the total characters present in any particular specie.It serves as a way to adapt to the changing environment. If both populations are infected by the same virus the population having low genetic diversity will have less chances of survival as compared to those having high genetic diversity.Only because of low genetic diversity many breeders do not leave surviving offspring as a result of this many potential genetic lineages are lost and the population of cheetahs is hampered very badly .
When we talk about lions the high genetic diversity and the high number of population makes their chances of survival more.
So,when both the species are compared based on the vulnerability to infection by virus cheetahs population will be ruined as compared to lion.
If both populations are infected by the same virus the population having low genetic diversity that is cheetahs will have less chances of survival as compared to those having high genetic diversity that is lion.
Because of low genetic diversity many breeders cannot produce surviving offspring and as a result the population of cheetahs is hampered very badly .