MetaChat REGISTER   ||   LOGIN   ||   IMAGES ARE OFF   ||   RECENT COMMENTS




artphoto by splunge
artphoto by TheophileEscargot
artphoto by Kronos_to_Earth
artphoto by ethylene

Home

About

Search

Archives

Mecha Wiki

Metachat Eye

Emcee

IRC Channels

IRC FAQ


 RSS


Comment Feed:

RSS

10 February 2006

Quiz: (Gaspode not allowed to answer.) What is the minimum number of individuals of a non-hermaphroditic sexually reproducing species required to establish a geographically isolated population of that species? Explain your answer.
4.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero 10 February | 15:08
But I'm too lazy to explain. Not to mention that I'm probably wrong.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero 10 February | 15:10
In fact now that I think about it, I definitely am wrong.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero 10 February | 15:13
3. 1 male and 2 females. I'm ignoring the dangers of inbreeding, because any kinks in genetic makeup should get ironed out after a lot of generations. It may not be exactly the same species, but given that the place is geographically isolated, there's bound to be a degree of evolutionary drift. I include a second female as a backup (childbirth is a dangerous thing) and to help with the child rearing.
posted by seanyboy 10 February | 15:13
The actual number of individuals in a population is not necessarily a good indication of a population’s genetic viability; rather, the EPS is critical. The EPS is the size of an "ideal" population in which genetic drift takes place at the same rate as in the actual population. The inbreeding coefficient should be limited to no more than 1 percent per generation, a figure which implies that maintenance EPS, in the short term, should be no fewer than 50 individuals. Because the EPS is typically only one-third to one-fourth the actual population size (being affected by sex ratio, overlapping generations, generally nonrandom distribution of offspring, and nonrandom mating), a population of 150 to 200 individuals is needed for short-term population maintenance. For long-term viability, an EPS of 500 individuals is necessary, translating into a population size of 1,500 to 2,000 individuals.
posted by brainwidth 10 February | 15:19
Does this mean that the MetaChat Island project is postponed until we get our numbers up?
posted by agropyron 10 February | 15:23
Is that true for all (non-hermaphroditic sexually reproducing)species? Would the size of a clutch or litter, or the gestation period, or other variables I don't know of, significantly change the starting number?
posted by Hugh Janus 10 February | 15:23
Um, ok, I shouldn't have used "required" in the question. Please replace "required" with "possible".
posted by orthogonality 10 February | 15:24
Here's some more information that's consistent with my answer above.
posted by brainwidth 10 February | 15:24
Me + 72 chaste houris as guerdon for my deeds = 73.
posted by eatitlive 10 February | 15:25
Now that I'm officially over 40, I'm excused from childbearing duties on Metachat Island. I will, however, be available for auntly duties such as teaching them dirty words, encouraging them to bang coconuts together as much as possible, and letting them eat bugs.
posted by matildaben 10 February | 15:44
Ack, imagine 50 generations after the establishment of Metachat Island...
posted by gaspode 10 February | 15:46
On Metachat island, I want to be this guy
≡ Click to see image ≡
posted by mcgraw 10 February | 16:26
I'd like to be the following on Metachat Island:

1. Tour Guide,
2. Guest Greeter,
3. Female Fluffer,
4. Practice Dummy.

That is all.
posted by Lipstick Thespian 10 February | 18:36
Is that true for all (non-hermaphroditic sexually reproducing)species? Would the size of a clutch or litter, or the gestation period, or other variables I don't know of, significantly change the starting number?


There are several species that are suspected to be descended from a single pregant female. Cheetas for example have such low genetic variation that skin grafts from different animals are never rejected. Some believe that cheetas are doomed to extiction because they are so inbred.
posted by Mitheral 10 February | 19:30
You guys rant and rant... || Black shirt + white hairball cat = fashion faux pas.

HOME  ||   REGISTER  ||   LOGIN