Conservation and the Genetics of Populations

by Fred W. Allendorf (University of Montana, Missoula & Victoria University of Wellington); Gordon Luikart (University of Montana, Missoula & Center for Investigation of Biodiversity and Genetic Resources (CIBIO), Portugal)

• ISBN13: 9781444309058
• ISBN10: 1444309056
• Format: eBook
• Copyright: 2009-03-01
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

Conservation and the Genetics of Populations gives a comprehensive overview of the essential background, concepts, and tools needed to understand how genetic information can be used to develop conservation plans for species threatened with extinction. Provides a thorough understanding of the genetic basis of biological problems in conservation. Uses a balance of data and theory, and basic and applied research, with examples taken from both the animal and plant kingdoms. An associated website contains example data sets and software programs to illustrate population genetic processes and methods of data analysis. Discussion questions and problems are included at the end of each chapter to aid understanding. Features Guest Boxes written by leading people in the field including James F. Crow, Nancy FitzSimmons, Robert C. Lacy, Michael W. Nachman, Michael E. Soule, Andrea Taylor, Loren H. Rieseberg, R.C. Vrijenhoek, Lisette Waits, Robin S. Waples and Andrew Young. For supplementary information designed to support Conservation and the Genetics of Populations including: Downloadable sample chapter Answers to questions and problems Data sets illustrating problems from the book Data analysis software programs Website links Downloadable artwork and diagrams from the book (also available by request on CD-ROM) please go to: www.blackwellpublishing.com/allendorf.

Table of Contents

Authors of Guest Boxes

Preface

List of Symbols

Introduction

Introduction

Genetics and conservation

What should we conserve?

How should we conserve biodiversity?

Applications of genetics to conservation

Guest Box 1 by L. S. Mills and M. E. Soulè: The role of genetics in conservation

Phenotypic Variation in Natural Populations

Color pattern

Morphology

Behavior

Differences among populations

Guest Box 2 by C. J. Foote: Looks can be deceiving: countergradient variation in secondary sexual color in sympatric morphs of sockeye salmon

Genetic Variation in Natural Populations: Chromosomes and Proteins

Chromosomes

Protein electrophoresis

Genetic variation within populations

Genetic divergence among populations

Strengths and limitations of protein electrophoresis

Guest Box 3 by A. Young and B. G. Murray: Management implications of polploidy in a cytologically complex self-incompatible herb

Genetic Variation in Natural Populations: DNA

Mitochondrial and chloroplast DNA

Single copy nuclear loci

Multilocus techniques

Sex-linked markers

DNA sequences

Additional techniques and the future

Genetic variation in natural populations

Guest Box 4 by N. N. FitzSimmons: Multiple markers uncover marine turtle behavior

Mechanisms Of Evolutionary Change

Random Mating Populations: Hardy-Weinberg Principle

The Hardy-Weinberg principle

Hardy-Weinberg proportions

Testing for Hardy-Weinberg proportions

Estimation of allele frequencies

Sex-linked loci

Estimation of genetic variation

Guest Box 5 by V. Castric and L. Bernatchez: Testing alternative explanations for deficiencies of heterozygotes in populations of brook trout in small lakes

Small Populations and Genetic Drift

Genetic drift

Changes in allele frequency

Loss of genetic variation: the inbreeding effect of small populations

Loss of allelic diversity

Founder effect

Genotypic proportions in small populations

Fitness effects of genetic drift

Guest Box 6 by P. L. Leberg and D. L. Rogowski: The inbreeding effect of small population size reduces population growth rate in mosquitofish

Effective Population Size

Concept of effective population size

Unequal sex ratio

Nonrandom number of progeny

Fluctuating population size

Overlapping generations

Variance effective population size

Cytoplasmic genes

Gene genealogies and lineage sorting

Limitations of effective population size

Effective population size in natural populations

Guest Box 7 by C. R. Miller and L. P. Waits: Estimation of effective population size in Yellowstone grizzly bears

Natural Selection

Fitness

Single locus with two alleles

Multiple alleles

Frequency-dependent selection

Natural selection in small populations

Natural selection and conservation

Guest Box 8 by C. A. Stockwell and M. L. Collyer: Rapid adaptation and conservation

Population Subdivision

F-statistics

Complete isolation

Gene flow

Gene flow and genetic drift

Cytoplasmic genes and sex-linked markers

Gene flow and natural selection

Limitations of FST and other measures of subdivision

Estimation of gene flow

Population subdivision and conservation

Guest Box 9 by C. S. Baker and F. B. Pichler: Hector's dolphin population structure and conservation

Multiple Loci

Gametic disequilibrium

Small population size

Natural selection

Population subdivision

Hybridization

Estimation of gametic disequilibrium

Guest Box 10 by S. H. Forbes: Dating hybrid populations using gametic disequilibrium

Quantitative Genetics

Heritability

Selection on quantitative traits

Quantitative trait loci (QTLs)

Genetic drift and bottlenecks

Divergence among populations (QST)

Quantitative genetics and conservation

Guest Box 11 by D. W. Coltman: Response to trophy hunting in bighorn sheep

Mutation

Process of mutation

Selectively neutral mutations

Harmful mutations

Advantageous mutations

Recovery from a bottleneck

Guest Box 12 by M. W. Nachman: Color evolution via different mutations in pocket mice

Genetics And Conservation

Inbreeding Depression

Pedigree analysis

Gene drop analysis

Estimation of F and relatedness with molecular markers

Causes of inbreeding depression

Measurement of inbreeding depression

Genetic load and purging

Guest Box 13 by R. C. Lacy: Understanding inbreeding depression: 20 years of experiments with Peromyscus mice

Demography and Extinction

Estimation of population size

Inbreeding depression and extinction

Population viability analysis

Loss of phenotypic variation

Loss of evolutionary potential

Mitochondrial DNA

Mutational meltdown

Long-term persistence

The 50/500 rule

Guest Box 14 by A. C. Taylor: Noninvasive population size estimation in wombats

Metapopulations and Fragmentation

The metapopulation concept

Genetic variation in metapopulations

Effective population size

Population divergence and fragmentation

Genetic rescue

Long-term population viability

Guest Box 15 by R. C. Vrijenhoek: Fitness loss and genetic rescue in stream-dwelling topminnows

Units of Conservation

What should we try to protect?

Systematics and taxonomy

Phylogeny reconstruction

Description of genetic relationships within species

Units of conservation

Integrating genetic, phenotypic, and environmental information

Guest Box 16 by R. S. Waples: Identifying conservation units in Pacific salmon

Hybridization

Natural hybridization

Anthropogenic hybridization

Fitness consequences of hybridization

Detecting and describing hybridization

Hybridization and conservation

Guest Box 17 by L. H. Rieseberg: Hybridization and the conservation of plants

Conservation Breeding and Restoration

The role of conservation breeding

Reproductive technologies and genome banking

Founding populations for conservation breeding programs

Genetic drift in captive populations

Natural selection and adaptation to captivity

Genetic management of conservation breeding programs

Supportive breeding

Reintroductions and translocations

Guest Box 18 by J. V. Briskie: Effects of population bottlenecks on introduced species of birds

Invasive Species

Why are invasive species so successful?

Genetic analysis of introduced species

Establishment and spread of invasive species

Hybridization as a stimulus for invasiveness

Eradication, management, and control

Guest Box 19 by J. L. Maron: Rapid adaptation of invasive populations of St John's Wort

Forensic and Management Applications of Genetic Identification

Species identification

Individual identification and probability of identity

Parentage testing

Sex identification

Population assignment

Population composition analysis

Guest Box 20 by L. P. Waits: Microsatellite DNA genotyping identifies problem bear and cubs

Glossary

Appendix: Probability and Statistics

Guest Box A by J. F. Crow: Is mathematics necessary?

References

Index

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