Chapter 6
Genetic Drift
The last chapter described how inbreeding can cause random fluctuations in gene
frequencies in captive animal populations. The present chapter describes another
mechanism which can bring about random changes in gene frequencies, namely
genetic drift. First, genetic drift is defined. Then, methods of measuring drift and
ways to avoid drift are discussed. Lastly, the point is made that drift may lead to
increased genetic variability between groups of animals even when variability is
eroded within populations.
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Genetic Drift 39
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40 Chapter 6
was reduced 26% in one generation of captive breeding. Mason et al. (1987) found
that a population of soybean loopers (Pseudoplusia includens) maintained in the labo-
ratory for 24 generations over a 2-year period showed a 62% reduction in
heterozygosity at six enzyme loci.
In a computer simulation program used to examine interacting effects of
genetic drift, mutation, immigration, selection and population subdivision on the
loss of genetic variability from small, managed populations, genetic drift was the
overriding factor controlling the loss of genetic variation (Lacy, 1987). As in
inbreeding, the loss in genetic variability due to genetic drift can negatively impact
fitness-determining traits. Ringo et al. (1986) reported that drift in two captive
populations of fruit flies, Drosophila simulans, reduced the propensity of flies to
mate and the number of offspring produced relative to an outcrossed base-line
population.
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Genetic Drift 41
present on 50% of the third chromosomes examined from the source population.
At the end of the study, 19 generations later, the PP gene arrangement was
present on 27.4% of the third chromosomes examined from the ten large
populations and 32.7% of the third chromosomes from the ten small populations.
This difference was not statistically significant. However, the percentage of PP
chromosomes found among the ten large populations ranged from 20.3 to 34.7%,
while among the small populations, the percentage varied from 16.3 to 47.3%
(Fig. 6.1). This difference in variation was statistically significant and evidently due
to the different size of the foundation stocks.
One way to preserve genetic diversity in captive populations is to establish a
number of subpopulations under the assumption that if drift occurs, the genes
fixed or lost will not be the same in the various groups. In a similar manner,
genetic diversity may be preserved in natural populations by geographical and/or
behavioral isolation of subpopulations (Danielsdottir et al., 1997), an important
consideration when restocking captive-reared animals in nature. Fiumera et al.
(2000) report on the loss of genetic diversity in captive-bred populations of
a Lake Victoria cichlid (Prognathochromis perrieri) and the importance of captive
subpopulations located at a number of institutions in maintaining genetic diversity
in the population as a whole. The original captive population was founded by
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42 Chapter 6
Conclusions
Like inbreeding, genetic drift is most likely to occur in relatively small populations
of animals, whether in nature or captivity. A large majority of captive populations
of animals founded by humans are relatively small in numbers and thus
are subject to genetic drift. Genetic heterozygosity and allelic diversity within
populations of a species are typically reduced when drift occurs, thus potentially
compromising the ability of each population to adapt to changes in its environ-
ment. This may be most important to populations in the early generations in
captivity, particularly if the species is not well pre-adapted to the captive environ-
ment. Since the effects of genetic drift are random, genetic variability between
populations of a species may persist, offering animal breeders the opportunity to
maintain genetic variation by periodically crossbreeding animals from different
populations. Unlike inbreeding, genetic drift is not typically associated with a loss
of physical vigor or vitality.
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