Download Black-Footed Ferret Bottleneck Scenario

Black-Footed Ferret Bottleneck Scenario
Names of Team Members:
Hypothesis:
Materials:
Procedures:
Data/Observations:
Key to Genetic Characteristics
Yellow
yellow
Black
black
Orange
orange
Pink
pink
Dark blue
blue
Green
green
Purple
purple
Red
red
White
white
Camouflage
Albino
Precise Vision
thermal vision
Accurate sense of smell
super-ferret senses
Strong claws and forearms
unlimited strength and stamina
Healthy jaw formation
crooked jaw
Agility
super speed
Acute hearing
high intelligence
Healthy rate of reproduction
non-fertile
Immunity to canine distemper
makes dogs go ape
On your Key to Genetic Characteristics, Highlight the COLORS and GENES that your
population received through the bottleneck.
Analysis:
1. Calculate the percentage of genetic diversity (heterozygosity) of your population.
Nine genes (colors) represent 100 percent genetic diversity in the original
population.
____3__ genes received / 9 original genes = ___.3___(decimal) x 100=
___30___%
2. List the genetic characteristics (colors) that your population received through the
bottleneck.
Healthy jaw formation, agility, and immunity to canine distemper
3. List the genetic characteristics that your population lost when it came through the
bottleneck. (Colors not received)
Camouflage, precise vision, accurate sense of smell, strong claws and
forearms, acute hearing, healthy rate of reproduction
4. Using the five environmental situations, write a prediction about what will happen
to your population during the coming year.
Is the population genetically equipped to survive in its environment? How well or
how poorly? How does a high or low percentage of genetic diversity affect the
population’s survival? How do random changes in the environment affect the
population?
2&4 Our population will most likely survive, but take a hard hit form the
eagle, and possibly the road near-by. Our ferrets are fairly well equipped for their
environment due to its canine immunity, agility, and healthy jaw formation. We
will most likely take some hard hits from the eagle and pollution from the
highway, but it may also help provide a food source when prairie dogs are scarce.
The more diverse we are, the higher chance we have of adapting to changes in our
environment and surviving. Random changes in the environment cause major
problems for those with a lack of genetic diversity.
3&7 We will easily survive near the prairie dog towns due to jaw strength
and agility so we can catch the prey quickly and eat them easily. The plague
would most likely kill us, because the population of prey would be greatly
reduced causing food problems for use due to lack of camouflage and eyesight.
10 We do not have the vision or camouflage genes to see the owls and
avoid them at night, so we would only survive if they got close enough for us to
see them and avoid them with our agility, but we would take a hard hit from the
owl regardless.
Conclusion:
Because of our genes for agility, strong jaws, and canine immunity, we were able
to survive most situations but not easily. We could avoid most predators and catch prey
when it was abundant and near-by.
Extension:
Research a threatened species found in our area. You can determine whether genetic
diversity within the species had an effect on its depletion. You should also examine
whether the species was placed on the threatened list because of degradation or loss of
habitat. Check your conclusions with the state’s natural resources agency or a local
office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Species: Wyoming Toad (Bufo baxteri)
Reason for decline in population: The original decline may be due to a chytrid
fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, which has been implicated in amphibian
declines worldwide.
Check your conclusion: This conclusion has been considered by officials and may
have been the cause, but is not confirmed.
Honors Class:
Discuss the impact of dominant versus recessive traits. Recessive traits have a much
lower probability of becoming evident in the population unless the population becomes
small enough to interbreed and bring forth those recessive traits, or unless that trait makes
the animal better able to survive in its environment. Repeat the activity using two colors
for each genetic characteristic (to represent dominant and recessive traits). For instance,
dark blue beads could represent healthy jaw formation and light blue beads could
represent a jaw malformation or deformity. Also use separate containers for each
characteristic, and have students pick two beads form each of those containers. If the
group receives only recessive color beads for a characteristic, then the recessive trait will
be expressed. If the group receives only dominant color beads or if it receives a mix of
dominant and recessive color beads for that characteristic, then the dominant trait will be
expressed. (If the color selection of beads is limited, another token, such as colored paper
squares, may be used.)
2 The ferret in this scenario would most likely survive due to its super speed. It
could easily out run the eagle and get to safety even if they didn’t see it until the last
minute.