The near threatened San Nicolas Island fox is lucky to count on the United States Navy for protection. But new research says that there might be a force that not even the Navy can protect the foxes from: low genetic diversity.
The research -- led by Associate Professor in the College of Natural Sciences' Department of Biology Chris Funk - revealed that the Island fox from San Nicolas "has the lowest genetic variation ever found in a mammal species" and the implications of that could spell the end of the subspecies. Like Funk explains to Science Daily, "Low genetic diversity may lead to lower survival and reproductive success, and may reduce the ability of a population to adapt to climate change or new, introduced diseases." Funk also argues that "actions need to be taken quickly to preserve this important member of the Channel Islands ecosystem" with fewer than 300 adults left. The researchers recommend genetic rescue, where island fox individuals from other islands are brought in to boost the San Nicolas gene pool.
Sign and share this petition urging the National Park Service and U.S. Navy to strongly consider using genetic rescue to save the San Nicolas Island fox's genes, and, ultimately, to save the subspecies from extinction.
Photo Credit: Pacific Southwest Region USFWS
