Do estimates of contemporary effective population size tell us what we want to know

摘要: Estimation of effective population size (N e) from genetic marker data is a major focus for biodiversity conservation because it essential to know at what rates inbreeding increasing and additive variation lost. But are these the assessed when applying commonly used N e estimation techniques? Here we use recently developed analytical tools demonstrate that in case substructured populations answer no. This following: Genetic change can be quantified several ways reflecting different types such as eI), variance eV), eAV), linkage disequilibrium equilibrium eLD), eigenvalue eE) coalescence eCo) size. They all same an isolated constant size, but realized values sizes differ dramatically under migration. Commonly applied e‐estimators target eV or eLD individual subpopulations. While estimates safe proxies loss isolation, show they poor indicators affected by In fact, both local global eI) eAV) consistently underestimated subdivided population. serious relevant widely accepted 50/500 rule short long term conservation.  The bias infinitely large due inappropriate parameters being estimated theory ones.