How the loss of genetic diversity affects the environment andgenetic variation important for a population's success in an environment?
Although all ecosystems are able to adapt to the stresses associated with reductions in biodiversity to some degree, biodiversity loss reduces an ecosystem's complexity, as roles once played by multiple interacting species or multiple interacting individuals are played by fewer or none. Genetic variation describes naturally occurring genetic differences among individuals of the same species. This variation permits flexibility and survival of a population in the face of changing environmental circumstances. Genetic diversity is important because it gives species a better chance of survival. However, genetic diversity can be lost when populations get smaller and isolated, which decreases a species' ability to adapt and survive.
Genetic variation describes naturally occurring genetic differences among individuals of the same species. This variation permits flexibility and survival of a population in the face of changing environmental circumstances. Sometimes the environment changes a gene either its DNA sequence or its activity level. Either of these effects can change the proteins that are made from a gene, which in turn affects traits. Some harmful environmental factors can change a gene's nucleotide sequence. For example, UV radiation can break DNA strands. All the biological data and variation that makes life on our planet work is encoded in DNA. This is known as genetic diversity. It strengthens the ability of species and populations to resist diseases, pests, changes in climate and other stresses. Genetic variations that alter gene activity or protein function can introduce different traits in an organism. If a trait is advantageous and helps the individual survive and reproduce, the genetic variation is more likely to be passed to the next generation. Individuals in a population are naturally variable, meaning that they are all different in some ways. This variation means that some individuals have traits better suited to the environment than others. Individuals with adaptive traits that give them some advantage are more likely to survive and reproduce. Major causes of variation include mutations, gene flow, and sexual reproduction. DNA mutation causes genetic variation by altering the genes of individuals in a population. Gene flow leads to genetic variation as new individuals with different gene combinations migrate into a population. The genetic diversity of a species is always changing. No matter how many variants of a gene are present in a population today, only the variants that survive in the next generation can contribute to species diversity in the future. Once gene variants are lost, they cannot be recovered. Genetic variation is maintained in most populations through the periodic introduction of new alleles or new allele frequencies from outside the population. If genetic diversity gets too low, species can go extinct and be lost forever. This is due to the combined effects of inbreeding depression and failure to adapt to change. In such cases, the introduction of new alleles can save a population. Maintaining high genetic diversity allows species to adapt to future environmental changes and avoid inbreeding. Inbreeding, which happens when there are small, isolated populations, can reduce a species' ability to survive and reproduce.Without genetic diversity, a population cannot evolve, and it cannot adapt to environmental change. Environmental change is now occurring on a global scale because of human activities, and many species will have to adapt to this change or experience an ever-increasing chance of extinction.
Geographically structured variation in phenotypic traits can result from genetic and environmental factors. Divergence may be primarily caused by environmental effects, which are mediated by phenotypic plasticity, the differential expression of traits under different environmental conditions. Genetic diversity is important because it could ensure that certain groups of individuals, species, or populations will be able to adapt to certain environmental factors. Besides having to deal with environmental conditions, genetic diversity renders them the ability to resist emerging diseases and epidemics. Genetic variation describes naturally occurring genetic differences among individuals of the same species. This variation permits flexibility and survival of a population in the face of changing environmental circumstances. Genetic variations that alter gene activity or protein function can introduce different traits in an organism. If a trait is advantageous and helps the individual survive and reproduce, the genetic variation is more likely to be passed to the next generation. Genetic Diversity refers to the range of different inherited traits within a species. In a species with high genetic diversity, there would be many individuals with a wide variety of different traits. Genetic diversity is critical for a population to adapt to changing environments.Loss of genetic diversity reduces crop yields. Loss of soil biodiversity makes soil less resilient and undermines its ability to support wild and cultivated food plants.Maintaining high genetic diversity allows species to adapt to future environmental changes and avoid inbreeding. Inbreeding, which happens when there are small, isolated populations, can reduce a species' ability to survive and reproduce.Without genetic variation, a population cannot evolve in response to changing environmental variables and, as a result, may face an increased risk of extinction. For example, if a population is exposed to a new disease, selection will act on genes for resistance to the disease if they exist in the population. Declining biodiversity lowers an ecosystem's productivity and lowers the quality of the ecosystem's services (which often include maintaining the soil, purifying water that runs through it, and supplying food and shade.
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