news.nationalgeographic.com/2017/11/wildlife-watch-trophy-hunting-extinctions-evolution/Hunting and poaching is said to be a powerful source of conservation of populations of species that are growing at large rates. However, more often than not, overhunting by those who utilize it as a sport or for money ultimately puts those species at risk of extinction, as we all know. Interestingly enough though, a new study from Queen Mary University in London, England has discovered something that makes hunters an even bigger threat than they already were. Most trophy hunters and poachers seek out the most prized males of a species, those that have the largest, longest, most impressive characteristics right? Well according to the study, these impressive males end up being the most "evolutionarily fit" and tend to father a large portion of the specie's offspring. Therefore, if they are the ones being killed, the population's survival rate as the years pass will diminish because the high quality genes aren't passed down. And when environmental changes occur as climate change evolves, the animals will not be able to adapt as easily. This causes a potential for many extinctions in the future.
There is still time to stop the process that is being set in motion. Restricting the hunting of the older trophy males will help to allow the spread of those high quality genes. Sustainable hunting can be very beneficial to conservation revenue, but we must remember to stop and think about the evolutionary impact from time to time. We must not let any more animals go extinct because of human recklessness.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |