On the potential for estimating the effective number of breeders from heterozygote-excess in progeny.

摘要: The important parameter of effective population size is rarely estimable directly from demographic data. Indirect estimates may be made genetic data such as temporal variation allelic frequencies or linkage disequilibrium in cohorts. We suggest here that an indirect estimate the number breeders might based on excess heterozygosity expected a cohort progeny produced by limited males and females. In computer simulations, heterozygote excesses for 30 unlinked loci having various numbers alleles allele-frequency profiles were obtained cohorts samples drawn form age-structured known variance reproductive success number. 95% confidence limits around contained true 70 72 trials Spearman rank correlation estimated actual values was 0.991. An have certain advantages over previous estimates, requiring only single-locus single-cohort data, but sampling error among individuals effect departures random union gametes still need to explored.