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An elderly man who has been involved in wildlife conservation for 30 years told me that 90% of people think that the sequelae of animal hybridization are simply infertility. But the reality is that reproductive isolation is just animal miscellaneous

author:Science explores cats

An elderly man who has been involved in wildlife conservation for 30 years told me that 90% of people think that the sequelae of animal hybridization are simply infertility.

But the reality is that reproductive isolation is only a trivial problem in the sequelae of animal hybridization, and you must not think of what the really serious sequelae are.

1. Which wild animals can hybridize?

Wildlife hybridization is not a new phenomenon, there are already many species of animals in nature that can be crossed.

For example, lions and tigers can be crossed, and the offspring produced are called "lion tigers" or "tigers", and polar bears and grizzly bears can also be crossed, and the offspring produced are called "polar grizzlies".

Horses and zebras, donkeys and horses, deer and cattle, antelope and cattle can also be cross-bred.

In recent years, due to the interference of human activities, the phenomenon of wildlife hybridization has increased, such as the amphibious maned lizard in the Galapagos Islands, which is formed by the combination of water-maned lizard and land-maned lizard.

Second, the fate of hybrid offspring

Offspring from wildlife hybridization are often frail, disease-prone and unable to reproduce.

This is due to the large genetic differences between different species, resulting in reproductive isolation due to the inability of the genomes of the offspring to integrate effectively.

For example, cetaceans are the product of the combination of pseudo-killer whales and bottlenose dolphins, completely infertile, and have low birth and survival rates.

Although the donkey produced by the crossbreeding of donkeys and zebras can be born, it has a short lifespan and is prone to deformities and diseases.

The frailty and physiological deformities of the hybrid offspring not only pose a great threat to their own survival, but also affect the balance of the original ecosystem.

Wildlife plays a vital role in ecosystems, as they are upper and lower layers of the food chain and can influence the stability and diversity of the entire ecosystem.

If the hybrid offspring cannot adapt to the wild environment, survive and reproduce, it will lead to a sharp decline in the number of some species, and the balance of the ecosystem will be upset, affecting the health of the entire ecosystem.

At the same time, hybrid offspring may also compete with the original species, affecting their survival.

For example, European hybrid trout is a cross between a broodstock trout and a rainbow trout.

They reproduce rapidly after adapting to some poor water quality and have better adaptability and food conversion, posing a serious threat to native trout and rainbow trout, resulting in a sharp decline in the population of these species.

Should animal hybridization be banned?

Scientists and environmentalists have long had different views and controversies on the issue of animal hybridization.

It is believed that animal hybridization can enhance the adaptive ability of species to a certain extent, which is conducive to the diversity and protection of species.

For example, the snowbuck, a hybrid between the alpine gazelle and the Tibetan antelope, can survive and reproduce in alpine regions, which is of great significance for adapting to the cold environment and enhancing the adaptive ability of the species.

However, the negative effects of animal hybridization cannot be ignored.

The physical weakness, physiological deformity, and inability to reproduce of hybrid offspring not only threaten their own survival, but also affect the balance of the entire ecosystem.

At the same time, hybrid offspring may compete with original species, resulting in fewer species and destruction of ecosystems.

Therefore, many people believe that strict scientific assessment and review should be carried out before animal hybridization, and corresponding norms and policies should be formulated for different species and situations to avoid irreversible damage to ecosystems.

For existing hybrids, scientific research and protection should be carried out, their basic ecological characteristics and living environment should be mastered, their ecological functions should be rationally used, and their ecosystems should be protected and maintained.

In summary, animal hybridization is a natural phenomenon that in some cases can contribute to the maintenance of biodiversity and ecosystems.

However, hybridization between different species can also cause irreversible damage to ecosystems, with unpredictable impacts on the survival and reproduction of hybrid offspring.

In your opinion, animal hybridization should continue?

#Popular Science##Animal Crossing##Lion Tiger Beast##Spotted Donkey##Antelope##物种杂交会带来什么影响 #

An elderly man who has been involved in wildlife conservation for 30 years told me that 90% of people think that the sequelae of animal hybridization are simply infertility. But the reality is that reproductive isolation is just animal miscellaneous
An elderly man who has been involved in wildlife conservation for 30 years told me that 90% of people think that the sequelae of animal hybridization are simply infertility. But the reality is that reproductive isolation is just animal miscellaneous
An elderly man who has been involved in wildlife conservation for 30 years told me that 90% of people think that the sequelae of animal hybridization are simply infertility. But the reality is that reproductive isolation is just animal miscellaneous
An elderly man who has been involved in wildlife conservation for 30 years told me that 90% of people think that the sequelae of animal hybridization are simply infertility. But the reality is that reproductive isolation is just animal miscellaneous
An elderly man who has been involved in wildlife conservation for 30 years told me that 90% of people think that the sequelae of animal hybridization are simply infertility. But the reality is that reproductive isolation is just animal miscellaneous

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