Small populations are vulnerable to increased genetic load and drift that can lead to
reductions in fitness and adaptive potential. By analyzing 66 individual whole genomes of …

Simple Summary Inbreeding, which is the mating of related animals, is a general
phenomenon in closed populations. Because it is often associated with a decrease in …

The expected change in fitness under inbreeding due to deleterious recessive alleles
depends on the amount of inbreeding load harbored by a population, that is, the load of …

Maintaining a diverse gene pool is important in the captive management of zoo populations,
especially in endangered species such as the pink pigeon (Nesoenas mayeri). However …

Biologists have long sought to understand the impacts of deleterious genetic variation on
fitness and population viability. However, our understanding of these effects in the wild is …

Reduction in population size, with its predicted effects on population fitness, is the most
alarming anthropogenic impact on endangered species. By introducing compatible …

Breeding programs have an essential role in the recovery of threatened populations through
optimal genetic management and mating strategies. The dama gazelle (Nanger dama) is a …

Transitions to captivity often produce population bottlenecks. On one hand, bottlenecks
increase inbreeding and decrease effective population size, thus increasing extinction risk …

Captive breeding programmes represent the most intensive type of ex situ population
management for threatened species. One example is the Cuvier's gazelle programme that …

Anthropogenic impact is causing the decline of a large proportion of species worldwide and
reduces their genetic diversity. Island species typically have smaller ranges than continental …