Genetic diversity decreases and puts species at risk

admin 2025年2月7日

Beginner

science & technology, science & technology - beginner

Pre-reading questions:

I will read each question. Then, please answer them.

講師がそれぞれの質問を読むので答えましょう。

If an animal’s environment changes, do you think all of them can survive?
Have you ever thought about why some animals get sick more easily than others?

Vocabulary:

I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.

単語、意味、例文を読みます。講師に続いて音読しましょう。

disease /dih-ZEEZ/

[noun] – an illness or disorder that affects a person, animal, or plant
Many farmers are worried because a new disease is spreading among their crops.

generation /jen-uh-REY-shuhn/

[noun] – all the people (or organisms) born and living at about the same time, or the process of passing traits from parents to offspring
The traditions of this village have been passed down through many generations.

urgent /UR-juhnt/

[adjective] – requiring immediate attention or action
The firefighters responded to an urgent call about a house fire in the neighborhood.

successful /suhk-SES-fuhl/

[adjective] – achieving the desired goal or result
The company launched a successful advertising campaign that increased sales.

introduce /in-truh-DOOS/

[verb] – to bring something or someone into a new place, situation, or group for the first time
The teacher introduced a new learning method to help students understand math better.

Article reading:

Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.

記事を音読しましょう。講師はあなたの発音とイントネーションを確認します。

Genetic diversity is crucial for species to survive and adapt, but a recent study in Nature reveals a concerning decline. Scientists studied 628 species between 1985 and 2019 and found that two-thirds of animal and plant populations are losing genetic variation. Birds and mammals are the most affected. When populations shrink and become isolated, they have fewer chances to mix genes. This makes them more vulnerable to threats like disease and climate change. Genetic diversity helps species adjust to environmental changes. If some individuals have traits that help them survive, they can pass those traits on to future generations. The study highlights the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect biodiversity and maintain stable ecosystems. A successful example is the Florida panther. Urban development and highways caused habitat loss, leading to inbreeding. In the mid-1990s, scientists introduced eight female panthers from Texas, improving genetic health and increasing the population over 20 years. Conservationists believe similar efforts, such as habitat corridors and genetic rescue programs, can help species recover. Without action, genetic loss may push more species toward extinction.

True or False:

Read the sentences and identify if they are true or false based on the article.

文章を読んで、記事に基づいて正誤を答えましょう。

Birds and mammals are the most affected by the decline in genetic diversity.
When populations become smaller and isolated, they have more chances to mix genes.
Genetic diversity helps species survive environmental changes by passing on beneficial traits.
The study suggests that genetic diversity is not important for species survival.
Scientists helped the Florida panther population by introducing new panthers from Texas.

Fill in the blanks:

Choose the correct word from the table, then fill in the blanks.

適切な言葉を選んで空欄を埋めましょう。

disease

generations

urgent

successful

introduced

The government ______ a new policy to reduce air pollution in big cities.
Scientists study how climate change will affect future ______ of marine life.
Scientists are working on a vaccine to protect people from a rare ______ found in remote areas.
Doctors say it is ______ to provide medical aid to the injured after the earthquake.
Her ______ project earned her an award at the science fair.