Does Totoaba offer any ecosystem benefits? I know their demise is causing the Vaquita to go extinct due to illegal poaching, however, are Totoaba themselves important? Essentially, if Totoaba went extinct, what would happen?
Gene Flow
Gene flow, also known as gene migration, is the introduction of genetic material from a particular population to another population of the same species through interbreeding. For example, a bee facilitates its reproductive process by carrying pollen from one flower to another. The flow alters the composition of the gene pool of the receiving population. It introduces new alleles within the population and helps increase variability. This exchange of genetic material occurs through reproduction and brings about new combinations of traits into the population. Where human beings are concerned, actual migration of populations, whether voluntary or forced, brings about gene flow.
Population Biology
Population biology is the study of patterns in organism populations, specifically the growth and management of population size, population genetics, the evolution of life history, species interactions, and demography.
Speciation
The process of speciation involves the formation of new species during evolution. The new species evolve in such a way that both new and old species are not able to interbreed. Thus, speciation occurs when few members of one species get separated from the main species due to geographical, mechanical, or reproductive isolation. These separated members develop new traits that make them different from the main species. In other words, speciation could be defined as the absence of gene flow between two populations that become new species.
Allele Fixation
A gene is a unit of heredity and contains both physical and functional information that shapes an individual. Genes are made up of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid), which carry genetic information from one generation to another, from one set of parents to their offspring, and so on. Every cell in a human body, or any living organism, has the same DNA, which implies that every cell in an individual’s body has all the information it needs to build and sustain the body!
Does Totoaba offer any ecosystem benefits? I know their demise is causing the Vaquita to go extinct due to illegal poaching, however, are Totoaba themselves important? Essentially, if Totoaba went extinct, what would happen?
*This question is being asked for personal knowledge, not for any school assignments!
Totoaba: Totoaba is a large marine fish found in the Gulf of California, is well known for its high demand swim bladders, and they are referred as the "Cocaine of the sea". Swim bladders in totoaba functions as hydrostatic organ, that enables the fish to maintain its depth without moving upward. Fishing for totoaba was banned, due to its high value.
Benefits of Totoaba :
- Totoaba is involved in increasing aquaculture species.
- Totoaba are highly suited for farming, due to its growth rate and ease of breeding.
- Totoaba has medicinal benefits, that boost fertility.
- Totoaba swim bladders are thick and large, and has many health benefits.
- Totoaba is expensive and consider as product for wealthy people. Swim bladders of totoaba are used in making soup called fish maw, which is beneficial for health.Fish maw contains collagen and protein, which improves skin and tissue health.
- Fish maw is also beneficial for liver and kidneys.
Vaquitas are caught in gillnets to illegally catch totoaba fish due to its high demand. Selling the totoaba swim bladder has been illegal.
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