How much gene flow is needed to avoid inbreeding depression in wild tiger populations

摘要: The number and size of tiger populations continue to decline owing habitat loss, fragmentation poaching tigers their prey. As a result, have become small highly structured. Current been isolated since the early 1970s or for approximately seven generations. objective this study is explore how inbreeding may be affecting persistence remaining dispersal, either natural artificial, reduce potentially detrimental effect depression. We developed simulation model used published levels genetic load in mammals simulate Following 50 year period population isolation, we introduced one four dispersing male per generation gene flow from nearby negative impact For smallest populations, even did not increase viability, likelihood extinction more than 90% within 30 years. Unless connectivity restored animals are artificially next 70 years, medium wild also likely go extinct, with only five largest remain extant same without intervention. To risk local extinction, must pursued concurrently efforts (e.g. enhance quality, availability). It critical that infrastructure development, dam construction other similar projects planned appropriately so they do erode extent quality these can truly serve as future source populations.