Low Genetic Diversity Menaces Fallow Deer

Low genetic diversity is becoming a serious concern over the survival of the scarce Persian fallow deer on Ashk Island in Urmia Lake, West Azarbaijan Province, the director of wildlife office at the provincial Department of Environment said.
"Inevitable inbreeding among the limited number of deer on Ashk Island, has decreased genetic variability among the species, making way for physiological weakness and vulnerability to disease," IRNA quoted Omid Yousefi as saying.
Genetic diversity, which is defined as the total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species, serves as a way for populations to adapt to changing environments.
According to Science Daily website, with more variation, it is more likely that some individuals in a population will possess variations of alleles that are suited for the environment. Those individuals are more likely to survive to produce offspring bearing that allele. Hence, the population will continue for more generations because of the success of these individuals.