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Development of Aquatic Models for Testing the Relationship Between Genetic Diversity and Population Extinction Risk
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| Abstract: | The relationship between population adaptive potential and extinction risk in a changing environment is not well understood. Although the expectation is that genetic diversity is directly related to the capacity of populations to adapt, the statistical and predictive aspects of this relationship in real populations are not well known. From a conservation perspective, it is useful to understand this relationship so that genetic data may be incorporated into population viability models which traditionally rely on demographic and ecological data. Here we present an experimental design using the freshwater amphipod species Hyalella azteca and the marine mysid Americamysis bahia. These organisms differ with respect to demographic and biogeographic constraints, and present a useful contrast with Drosophila and Tribolium laboratory models. The design involves creating inbred lines from diverse native populations. Individuals from each inbred line will be combined to form "synthetic" populations from either three or six randomly selected inbred lines in order to generate experimental populations with controlled levels of genetic diversity, and the entire set will be replicated ten times. The adaptive capacity of these "synthetic" and inbred populations will be compared to that of native populations and an "admixed" population containing genes from all sampled populations. Differences in population extinction times will be interpreted as differences in population adaptive capacity, and provide data for formal population viability analyses (PVA's). By experimentally manipulating levels of population genetic diversity, we will be able to formally assess both the relationship between genetic diversity and population viability in an increasingly hostile environment and also determine the statistical efficiency of various classes of genetic markers. |
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| Citation: | Markert, J., M. J. Bagley, and D. Nacci. Development of Aquatic Models for Testing the Relationship Between Genetic Diversity and Population Extinction Risk. Presented at Evolution 2004 Conference, Fort Collins, CO, June 26-30, 2004. |
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| Contact: |
Linda Ransick - (513) 569-7395 or ransick.linda@epa.gov
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| Division: |
Ecological Exposure Research Division |
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| Branch: |
Molecular Ecology Research Branch |
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| Product Type: |
Abstrct/Oral |
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| Presented: |
06/27/2004 |
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