Dissertation Research: Genetic Variability and Interdemic Selection in Small Populations

9321689晚安：近亲繁殖衰退可能是种群规模减小的最严重的遗传后果之一。本研究以木犀草（Tribolium castaneum）为模型系统，对在细分种群中减少近交抑制的选择进行了实证研究。它将涉及比较两种移徙方案，随机和差异，在一组15个近交系中，来自同一近交系种群。在差异迁移方案中，移民将从近交抑制较少的谱系被送到近交抑制较多的谱系。在随机迁移方案中，迁移率将是相同的，但迁移者将根据近亲繁殖抑制的程度随机发送。与随机迁移方案相比，差异迁移方案中的近交抑制水平显著降低，这将明显反映出对选择的显著响应。这项研究的意义在于它洞察了小的、细分的种群内部和之间的基因流动的定量方面，这对基础种群和保护生物学具有相当重要的意义

9321689 Goodnight Inbreeding depression is potentially one of the most serious genetic consequences of reduced population size. This research is an empirical study on selection for reduced inbreeding depression among a subdivided population, using Tribolium castaneum as the model system. It will involve a comparison of two migration schemes, random and differential, among a set of fifteen inbred lineages derived from the same outbred stock population. In the differential migration scheme, migrants will be sent from lineages suffering from less inbreeding depression to lineages suffering from more inbreeding depression. In the random migration scheme, the rate of migration will be the same but migrants will be sent at random with respect to levels of inbreeding depression. A significant response to selection will be evident by a significant decrease in the level of inbreeding depression in the differential migration scheme, relative to the random migration scheme.%%% The significance of the research lies in its insight into the quantitative aspects of gene flow within and between small, subdivided populations, an issue of considerable significance to basic population and conservation biology.***