How does the impact of a localized Ebola outbreak relate to the spatial distribution of the gorilla populations?
Answer
If a group in a small, isolated section contracts Ebola, that entire genetic lineage is lost, highlighting the role of isolation as a buffer.
Diseases such as Ebola pose an existential threat because they can decimate an entire localized population rapidly, regardless of protective measures applied to the general region. When a group occupies a small, isolated section of forest, the infection of that group means the complete loss of that specific genetic lineage. This demonstrates that while fragmentation creates isolation challenges, the separation between viable populations functions as a necessary buffer, preventing a single catastrophic, localized event from wiping out the entire species globally.
Related Questions
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