Abstracts » Zoology and wildlife conservation

Using taxonomy to predict success among introduced avifauna: relative importance of transport and establishment

Article Abstract:

Binomial probabilities have been used to find taxonomic patterns in establishment success among global avifauna. Taxonomy has been used to predict success of introduced avifauna. The relative importance of transport and establishment has been studied. Robust predictors of success must be identified if invasion ecology is to be a quantitative approach to conservation. Taxonomy has not been well assessed as something to use in prediction. Human influence on probability of transport seems to drive the taxonomic pattern of seven families that contained more successfully established exotic species that chance would predict. Traits that raise probability of purposeful transport show a taxonomic pattern.

Environmental aspects, Identification and classification, Taxonomy (Biology), Biology, Birds

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Temporal changes in allele frequencies provide estimates of population bottleneck size

Article Abstract:

Temporal changes in allele frequencies can give information for estimates of population bottleneck size. Monte Carlo computer simulations have been used to measure bias and precision of effective population size (N(sub.e)) estimates based on temporal changes in allele frequencies at allozyme and microsatellite loci. Three sources of bias were loss of alleles, the assumption that selfing can occur when it is not possible, and the assumption that the increase in variance in allele frequencies with time is additive. A new equation that reduces bias substantially has been developed.

France

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Empirical evaluation of a test for identifying recently bottlenecked populations from allele frequency data

Article Abstract:

Recently bottlenecked populations can be identified by a statistical test using data on allele frequencies. The test is a sign test for heterozygosity excess. A sample of only about 20-30 individuals is needed to provide data of allele frequences from 5-20 polymorphic loci. Empirical evaluation supports the reliability of the test.

Models, Allelomorphism, Alleles, Heterozygosis, Heterozygote

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