Iberian lynx 'not doomed' by low genetic diversity

robp

Good news for European conservation as it looks like the Iberian lynx is not doomed by its tiny remaining population as was feared. I think this species is a very important case of European conservation. For such an impressive and charismatic creature to on the brink at our doorstep is awful really. Lets hope this news will give some impetus to conservation efforts.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14563807

Connacht

Nice simplistic question :
Are zoo-held animals, like the Lynx in this case, ever used to bolster genetic diversity in wild specimens, via AI or whatever ?

LostCovey

Connacht wrote: »

Nice simplistic question :
Are zoo-held animals, like the Lynx in this case, ever used to bolster genetic diversity in wild specimens, via AI or whatever ?

I think the answer is that they are, but to a limited extent.

Unfortunately zoo animals frequently come from a different but equally narrow genetic base. And from a gene pool that has been selected by different pressures (ability to survive stresses of captivity for example), so merely increasing the diversity from zoo captive stock might not in fact greatly improve the fitness of the wild stock. However it would be better than nothing, and might improve the genetic pool a little in the long run.

LC

Mothman

Moved to new Zoology forum from Nature & BW

steddyeddy

Well im glad their doing ok. When a gene pool gets smaller theres always a fear that diseases arising from consanguinity will pose a threat. It doesnt have to be a disease that arises from consanguinity but it could be a disease that a single lynx is infected with and since there is low genetic diversity there might not be a lynx with a gene that resists that disease and so all the lynx are wiped out.

The interesting thing about this is that time and time again we have seen. Often small populations of animals that should be showing signs of inbreeding show no signs of inbreeding and the have a higher amount of genetic variation along a certain line thans expected. We have seen this in cheetahs when their population bottled necked and most impressivly in the mountain gorilla whose numbers at one point dipped below the five hundred mark. There is a lot of study being conducted to determine how small populations retain this degree of genetic variaton. Semi wild populations such as the recently released florida panther have shown some signs of inbreeding but again not to the degree which would expect to see.