Are Genetic Threats a Serious Concern in the Conservation of Natural Populations?

Abstract

The earth is currently faced with a mounting loss of species that is threatening biodiversity and genetic threats are among the causes of this challenge. However, the contribution of genetic threats to the extinction crisis is of current debate. In this paper, we present our arguments in light of loss of genetic variability, inbreeding depression, Accumulation of mildly deleterious mutations, local extinction in the presents of migration and extinction in metapopulations context. The extinction processes often operates across many facets hence the division between demographic, environmental and genetic just artificial. In addition, genetic threats only become important after populations have been driven to very low levels, particularly by human activities such as poaching, habitat fragmentation, introduction of invasive organisms and pollution. We advocate for conservation efforts to be distributed proportionally to threats posed by any factor, and as shown by most studies, most genetic threats are currently not priorities for many species.