The topic that still needs explanation is the idea that you can measure genetic diversity by mutations in mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite DNA -- both areas that seem to have nothing to do with the actual losses under discussion, such as the loss of genetic diversity that is necessary to forming breeds and species...
Wut? No. You still don't get it. There is no
net loss of genetic diversity necessary for the origin of new species.
...and the loss that at the extreme endangers creatures such as the cheetah and the elephant seal.
Umm, one of the reasons why the cheetah and elephant seals are at such a precarious point is precisely because they lack nucleotide diversity (which is measured through mtDNA, etc.), and thus lack genetic diversity. A low level of nucleotide diversity can be extraordinarily dangerous for a population. Fortunately, the elephant seals seem to be on the rocky road to recovery, but that's going to take time and will be contingent on other factors (e.g., the selection pressures wrought by an increase in global warming).
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