Question

question 1-10
there are only about 3,000 to 4,000 wild tigers left on earth. due to a decrease in habitat, wild tiger populations have become isolated.
how is the genetic diversity of the species affected by decreasing tiger habitat?
complete the sentence below by choosing the correct answer from the drop down menus.
the genetic diversity of wild tiger populations is ▼, because the gene flow is ▼ due to isolation from habitat loss.

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze the concepts of genetic diversity and gene flow in the context of habitat loss and population isolation.

1. When populations become isolated (due to habitat loss), gene flow (the transfer of genetic variation between populations) is reduced or stopped.
2. Genetic diversity within a population is affected by gene flow: less gene flow (because of isolation) leads to lower genetic diversity in each isolated population (since they can't share genes with other groups). So the first blank (genetic diversity of wild tiger populations) should be "decreasing" (or a similar term indicating reduction) and the second blank (gene flow) should be "reduced" (or a term meaning decreased) because isolation from habitat loss limits gene exchange.

Answer:

For the first blank (genetic diversity of wild tiger populations): decreasing (or similar term like "reduced", "lowered")
For the second blank (gene flow): reduced (or similar term like "decreased", "limited")

(Note: The exact answer options would depend on the dropdown choices, but the reasoning is based on evolutionary biology concepts: habitat loss causes population isolation, reducing gene flow, which in turn decreases genetic diversity within each isolated population.)