WASHINGTON (AP) — Two-thirds of animal and plant populations are declining in genetic diversity, which makes it harder to adapt to environmental changes, according to research published Wednesday.
Long before a species goes extinct, the population becomes smaller and more fragmented, shrinking the number of potential mates and therefore genetic mixing. This leaves a species more vulnerable to future threats such as disease.
“A surprisingly trend was that we saw genetic diversity declining even among” many species that aren’t considered at risk, said co-author…
