Species & Populations with little genetic diversity are

at risk for extinction

Why?Species that make up a population that are

not genetically diverse are more susceptible to extinction because if their environment changes there is no room for survival of the fittest, just extinction, because they’re all genetically identical.

California Condors

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA

0uLfNPyuU&feature=player_embedd

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California CondorsMost Condors died from lead poisoning,

poaching, and habitat lost, which left only the smaller birds that had higher immune systems and could adapt to newer immune systems

However females only lay a single egg every two years

Condors only begin to reproduce when they are 6-8 years old

Black-footed ferret

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj

ZwtD_OVzg&feature=player_embedd

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Black-footed ferretFerrets died from fatal, non-native diseases,

leaving the ones with resistanceFerrets died from loss of prairie dog preyFerrets also died from heavy habitat loss Ferrets were once declared extinct until a

dog retrieved a dead ferret and were only a dozen at one point in time

Prairie chickens

http://www.youtube.com/watch?featu

re=player_embedded&v=s2_wdMmE

upQ

Prairie chickensPrairie chickens are less diverse

because droughts destroy their food and make it difficult to provide for their young chicks

Their chicks also have difficulty with the exact opposite natural threat, rains, which wreck havoc on chick survival

Only the best suited chicks for these natural threats survive

Prairie chickens are also threatened by heavy habitat loss, and avoid nesting because of poor habitat

Corn rusthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38

XomXO4Tog&feature=player_embed

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Corn rustCorn rusts are a plant

disease that destroys the plants; leaves, stems, fruits, and seeds

Its composed of tiny aeciospores which land on the corn producing pustules, or uredia

The fungi produce asexual spores which disperse by wind, water, or by insect vectors spreading the infection

Tasmanian Devilhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S

Wu9zj0EzC8&feature=player_embed

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Tasmanian DevilThe Tasmanian devil

faces an uphill against a contagious cancer called devil facial tumor disease

Tumors were located in one devil’s Schwann cell and has been passed along ever since threatening extinction in 30 years