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Wrentit

Detailed Description

The wrentit (Chamaea fasciata) is a small, monagamous songbird found in California's coastal scrublands. Despite its ability to fly, yet USGS and National Park Service biologists are finding signs of genetic isolation in a Southern California wrentit population. As urban development fragmented the Santa Monica Mountains scrubland into isolated "habitat islands", wildlife populations also have become genetically isolated as individuals are unable cross urban barriers to breed with neighboring members of their own species. Genetic isolation and loss of genetic diversity can lead to greater risk of a species' extinction.

Sources/Usage

Public Domain.