AFLP Analysis of genetic variation on captive-bred chinese alligators: an application to select individuals for release
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.20110.abs The Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) is a critically endangered species in China. Wild populations of Chinese alligator are on the edge of extinction. Through a release program, some captive-bred alligators will be selected and released into the wild to supplement and renew natural populations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the […]
Effective population size in the captive breeding program of the Lake Victoria cichlid Paralabidochromis chilotes
Abstract 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2361(1999)18:33.3.CO;2-4 Microsatellite DNA markers were used to monitor levels of genetic variation in 3 generations of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association [AZA] Species Survival Plan [SSP] captive breeding program for the Lake Victoria cichlid Paralabidochromis chilotes. Temporal changes in the frequency of 15 alleles, across four polymorphic loci, were used to estimate effective […]
Genetic characteristics of endangered Japanese golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos japonica) based on mitochondrial DNA D-loop sequences and karyotypes
Abstract 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2361(1998)17:23.3.CO;2-N Mitochondrial DNA D-loop sequences (472 bases) for endangered Japanese golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos japonica) were investigated to evaluate-intrapopulational genetic variations. Among 23 golden eagles, including origin-known eagles caught in the wild and origin-unknown eagles, 10 variable sites were found in the 472 base-sequences. From the nucleotide substitutions, five haplotypes of D-loop sequences were […]
Genetic evaluation of the three captive mexican wolf lineages
Abstract 10.1002/(SICI)1098-2361(1997)16:13.3.CO;2-7 The Mexican gray wolf appears to be extinct in the wild and exists now only in captivity. There are three captive putative Mexican wolf lineages: Certified, Ghost Ranch, and Aragón lineages. From pedigree analysis, the Certified lineage has the lowest level of inbreeding and has retained the most founder alleles. In contrast, the […]
Is inbreeding depression more severe in a stressful environment?
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430130302.abs Successful reintroduction of endangered species depends in part on their ability to respond to changing environmental conditions. Population genetics theory suggests that inbred populations lacking genetic variability may be unable to respond effectively to environmental stress. There have been very few studies designed explicitly to investigate the phenomenon of inbreeding depression under environmental […]
Inbreeding and fitness in captive populations: Lessons from Drosophila
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430120404.abs The avoidance of inbreeding is a primary goal of endangered species population management. In order to fully understand the effects of inbreeding on the fitness of natural and captive populations, it is necessary to consider fitness components which span the entire life cycle of the organism. Using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism […]
Use of animals with unknown ancestries in scientifically managed breeding programs
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430120203.abs Whether to incorporate animals with unknown ancestries as founders into scientifically managed captive breeding programs, can be a difficult decision. If the animals are offspring of known founders, their inclusion in the breeding program will result in an increased incidence of inbreeding in the captive population. If the animals are additional founders, excluding […]
Modeling problems in conservation genetics using captive Drosophila populations: Consequences of equalizing founder representation
Abstract 10.1002/zoo.1430110504.abs Equalizing founder representation is a recommended practice for maintaining captive populations. However, this procedure has not been subject to controlled experimental evaluation. The effects on inbreeding, genetic variation, and reproductive fitness of maintaining small captive populations by equalizing founder representation (EFR) versus randomly choosing parents (RC) were compared. Ten replicate lines were created […]
The ecology of individuals-incidence and implications for individual specialization
Most empirical and theoretical studies of resource use and population dynamics treat conspecific individuals as ecologically equivalent. This simplification is only justified if interindividual niche variation is rare, weak, or has a trivial effect on ecological processes. This article reviews the incidence, degree, causes, and implications of individual-level niche variation to challenge these simplifications. Evidence […]
Heritable variation underlies behavioural types in the mating context in male bluefin killifish
In many species, consistent behavioural differences among individuals are linked to fitness variation. Determining the environmental and genetic factors that mould these behavioural types is crucial to understanding how behaviours might respond to selection. Male bluefin killifish, Lucania goodei, show extensive consistent behavioural variation in their levels of courtship, male-directed aggression and female-directed aggression, resulting […]