Wolves were hunted and poisoned to extinction in Sweden and Norway by the mid-20th century.
Three wolves migrated from Russia and founded a new Scandinavian wolf population in the
early 1980s. That population now consists of approximately 100 animals. How large do you
think the Scandinavian wolf population should be to maintain genetic variation that may be
important for the viability (continued persistence) and continued evolution of this population?
There is some possibility of gene flow into this population from Russian wolves. Do you think
that it is important that gene flow between the Scandinavian and the Russian populations be
maintained in the future? Why?
Solution
There is no cut-off formula for calculating the length of population to maintain genetic diversity.
It is important to note that even after bottleneck effect populations are able to survive and are
able to maintain genetic diversity. Here, there are 100 animals; and these 100 animals are
heterozygous, not pure lines; because they have already mixed up with the Scandinavian
population. So, the population is large enough to maintain genetic variation.
Yes, there is further possibility of mixing of this population with Russian wolves further also; but
that possibility is very rare. This is so because wolves have already been extinct over there; as
per the question.
No, it is no more compulsion for gene flow between the two populations. This is so because the
populations have already diverged. And a subsequent amount of genetic variability has been
attained..
Wolves were hunted and poisoned to extinction in Sweden and Norway b.pdf
1. Wolves were hunted and poisoned to extinction in Sweden and Norway by the mid-20th century.
Three wolves migrated from Russia and founded a new Scandinavian wolf population in the
early 1980s. That population now consists of approximately 100 animals. How large do you
think the Scandinavian wolf population should be to maintain genetic variation that may be
important for the viability (continued persistence) and continued evolution of this population?
There is some possibility of gene flow into this population from Russian wolves. Do you think
that it is important that gene flow between the Scandinavian and the Russian populations be
maintained in the future? Why?
Solution
There is no cut-off formula for calculating the length of population to maintain genetic diversity.
It is important to note that even after bottleneck effect populations are able to survive and are
able to maintain genetic diversity. Here, there are 100 animals; and these 100 animals are
heterozygous, not pure lines; because they have already mixed up with the Scandinavian
population. So, the population is large enough to maintain genetic variation.
Yes, there is further possibility of mixing of this population with Russian wolves further also; but
that possibility is very rare. This is so because wolves have already been extinct over there; as
per the question.
No, it is no more compulsion for gene flow between the two populations. This is so because the
populations have already diverged. And a subsequent amount of genetic variability has been
attained.
