Purging and accumulation of genetic load in conservation

Our ability to assess the threat posed by the genetic load to small and declining populations has been greatly improved by advances in genome sequencing and computational approaches. Yet, considerable confusion remains around the definitions of the genetic load and its dynamics, and how they impact individual fitness and population viability. We illustrate how both selective purging and drift affect the distribution of deleterious mutations during population size decline and recovery. We show how this impacts the composition of the genetic load, and how this affects the extinction risk and recovery potential of populations. We propose a framework to examine load dynamics and advocate for the introduction of…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Award: 31003A_182343
• EC
  European Commission

  Award: 840519
• SN
  Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung

  Award: 31003A_182343
• CT
  Carl Tryggers Stiftelse för Vetenskaplig Forskning

  Award: CTS 19: 257
• V
  Vetenskapsrådet

  Award: 2021-00625
• H2
  Horizon 2020 Framework Programme
• H2
  Horizon 2020
• HM
  H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

  Award: 840519