Fitness decline under relaxed selection in captive populations
Article Abstract:
Fitness declines under relaxed selection conditions in captive housefly (Musca domestica L.) populations. were studied. Life-history schedules of the flies in the laboratory under curtailed lifespan were compared. The curtailed lifespan set up a situation in which selection on mutations that affected only late-life fitness traits was cut down. Late-life fecundity declined within a few generations. It seems that if captive populations are maintained with minimal selection, either by direct manipulation of the environment or by equalizing family contributions, the increased frequency of potentially deleterious mutations may rapidly lower ability of the populations to exist under natural conditions, independent of population size. Expanded captive populations would not alleviate potential fitness reductions based on relaxed selection.
Publication Name: Conservation Biology
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0888-8892
Year: 1999
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Correlation between fitness and genetic diversity
Article Abstract:
The fitness or a component of fitness is measured in data sets for three or more populations along with heterozygosity, habitability, and/or population size. The study shows that loss of heterozygosity has a deleterious effect on population fitness, and supports the World Conservation Union's (IUCNs) suggestion that genetic diversity deserves conservation.
Publication Name: Conservation Biology
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0888-8892
Year: 2003
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Effectiveness of conservation targets in capturing genetic diversity
Article Abstract:
The empirical data from four rare plant taxa are used to assess these consequences in terms of how well allele numbers and expected heterozygosity are represented when different numbers of populations are conserved. The higher percentage of population is needed to conserve genetic diversity if populations are selected without genetic data.
Publication Name: Conservation Biology
Subject: Zoology and wildlife conservation
ISSN: 0888-8892
Year: 2003
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