Mean kinship (MK) a widely accepted as a conservation method within roos. It can be used for captive management strategies that could be used for successful reintroduction in the wild, just like with the black-footed ferret population. MIC is calculated by the kinship (relatedness) of that animal with the entire current population (including itself). Therefore mean kinships per animal are relative to the current population, which can change from year to year
What situations can occur in the population that may cause the MK number to change yearly?