Frankham R
Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW, Australia.
Genet Res. 1999 Dec;74(3):237-44. doi: 10.1017/s001667239900405x.
Most of the major genetic concerns in conservation biology, including inbreeding depression, loss of evolutionary potential, genetic adaptation to captivity and outbreeding depression, involve quantitative genetics. Small population size leads to inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity and so increases extinction risk. Captive populations of endangered species are managed to maximize the retention of genetic diversity by minimizing kinship, with subsidiary efforts to minimize inbreeding. There is growing evidence that genetic adaptation to captivity is a major issue in the genetic management of captive populations of endangered species as it reduces reproductive fitness when captive populations are reintroduced into the wild. This problem is not currently addressed, but it can be alleviated by deliberately fragmenting captive populations, with occasional exchange of immigrants to avoid excessive inbreeding. The extent and importance of outbreeding depression is a matter of controversy. Currently, an extremely cautious approach is taken to mixing populations. However, this cannot continue if fragmented populations are to be adequately managed to minimize extinctions. Most genetic management recommendations for endangered species arise directly, or indirectly, from quantitative genetic considerations.
保护生物学中的大多数主要遗传学问题，包括近亲繁殖衰退、进化潜力丧失、对圈养环境的遗传适应以及远交衰退，都涉及数量遗传学。种群规模小会导致近亲繁殖和遗传多样性丧失，从而增加灭绝风险。濒危物种的圈养种群管理旨在通过最小化亲缘关系来最大程度地保留遗传多样性，并辅以最小化近亲繁殖的努力。越来越多的证据表明，对圈养环境的遗传适应是濒危物种圈养种群遗传管理中的一个主要问题，因为当圈养种群被重新引入野外时，它会降低繁殖适应性。目前这个问题尚未得到解决，但可以通过有意分割圈养种群，并偶尔交换个体以避免过度近亲繁殖来缓解。远交衰退的程度和重要性存在争议。目前，在种群混合方面采取了极其谨慎的方法。然而，如果要对分割的种群进行充分管理以尽量减少灭绝，这种做法就无法持续下去。大多数针对濒危物种的遗传管理建议直接或间接地源于数量遗传学的考虑。
