Course Overview

Question 1

Conservation Genetics and Extinction Vortex

Answer 1

How important are genetic factors vs. stochastic factors?
Answer: Hotly debated in the 1980’s and 90’s. Whether genetics contributes to extinction but more and more evidience indicates that a genetic factors play a crucial role.

Question 2

Measuring inbreeding at the individual level

Answer 2

Inbreeding coefficient (F) every individual has one. Indicated how related as individuals parents are…0=unrelated, 0.25-parents are brother sister (or mother son or father daughter) 0.0125 parents are half brother sister and 0.0625 parents are first cousins.

Question 3

Inbreeding at the population level

Answer 3

Average inbreeding coefficient (average F). Small populations = average F increases with time because individuals in each generation become increasingly related.