Inbreeding depression and genetic load in laboratory metapopulations of the butterfly Bicyclus anynana

Abstract.— We investigated the effects of inbreeding on various fitness components and their genetic load in laboratory metapopulations of the butterfly Bicyclus anynana . Six metapopulations each consisted of four subpopulations with breeding population sizes of N = 6 or N = 12 and migration rate of m = 0 or m = 0.33. Metapopulations were maintained for seven generations during which coancestries and pedigrees were established. Individual inbreeding coefficients at the F₇ were calculated and ranged between 0.01 and 0.51. Even though considerable purging had occurred during inbreeding, the genetic load remained higher than that of many outbreeding species: approximately two lethal equivalents were detected for egg sterility, one for zygote survival, one for juvenile survival, and one for longevity. Severe inbreeding depression occurred after seven generations of inbreeding, which jeopardized the metapopulation survival. This finding suggests that the purging of genetic load by intentional inbreeding cannot be recommended for the genetic conservation of species with a high number of lethal.     

Evaluation of major genetic loci contributing to inbreeding depression for survival and early growth in a selfed family of Pinus taeda

The magnitude of fitness effects at genetic loci causing inbreeding depression at various life stages has been an important question in plant evolution. We used genetic mapping in a selfed family of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) to gain insights on inbreeding depression for early growth and viability. Two quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were identified that explain much of the phenotypic variation in height growth through age 3 and may account for more than 13% inbreeding depression in this family. One of these QTLs maps to the location of cad-nl, a lignin biosynthesis mutation. Both QTLs show evidence of overdominance, although evidence for true versus pseudo-overdominance is inconclusive. Evidence of directional dominance for height growth was noted throughout the genome, suggesting that additional loci may contribute to inbreeding depression. A chlorophyll-deficiency mutation, spf did not appear to be associated with growth effects, but had significant effects on survival through age 3. Previously identified embryonic viability loci had little or no overall effect on germination, survival, or growth. Our results challenge, at least in part, the prevailing hypothesis that inbreeding depression for growth is due to alleles of small effect. However, our data support predictions that loci affecting inbreeding depression are largely stage specific.     

INBREEDING DEPRESSION IN GYNODIOECIOUS LOBELIA SIPHILITICA: AMONG-FAMILY DIFFERENCES OVERRIDE BETWEEN-MORPH DIFFERENCES

If inbreeding depression is caused by deleterious recessive alleles, as suggested by the partial dominance hypothesis, a negative correlation between inbreeding and inbreeding depression is predicted. This hypothesis has been tested several times by comparisons of closely related species or comparisons of populations of the same species with different histories of inbreeding. However, if one is interested in whether this relationship contributes to mating-system evolution, which occurs within populations, comparisons among families within a population are needed; that is, inbreeding depression among individuals with genetically based differences in their rate of selfing should be compared. In gynodioecious species with self-compatible hermaphrodites, hermaphrodites will have a greater history of potential inbreeding via both selfing and biparental inbreeding as compared to females and may therefore express a lower level of inbreeding depression. We estimated the inbreeding depression of female and hermaphrodite lineages in gynodioecious Lobelia siphilitica in a greenhouse experiment by comparing the performance of selfed and outcrossed progeny, as well as sibling crosses and crosses among subpopulations. We did not find support for lower inbreeding depression in hermaphrodite lineages. Multiplicative inbreeding depression (based on seed germination, juvenile survival, survival to flowering, and flower production in the first growing season) was not significantly different between hermaphrodite lineages (δ = 0.30 ± 0.08) and female lineages (δ = 0.15 ± 0.18), although the trend was for higher inbreeding depression in the hermaphrodite lineages. The population-level estimate of inbreeding depression was relatively low for a gynodioecious species (δ = 0.25) and there was no significant inbreeding depression following biparental inbreeding (δ = 0.01). All measured traits showed significant variation among families, and there was a significant interaction between family and pollination treatment for four traits (germination date, date of first flowering, number of flowers, and aboveground biomass). Our results suggest that the families responded differently to selfing and outcrossing: Some families exhibited lower fitness following selfing whereas others seemed to benefit from selfing as compared to outcrossing. Our results support recent simulation results in that prior inbreeding of the lineages did not determine the level of inbreeding depression. These results also emphasize the importance of determining family-level estimates of inbreeding depression, relative to population-level estimates, for studies of mating-system evolution.     

Factors determining the midday depression of photosynthesis in trees under monsoon climate

 Field studies of gas exchange of Populus deltoides, Prosopis juliflora and Acacia auriculiformis showed large diurnal changes in net photosynthesis (A) and stomatal conductance (g_s) during autumn. P. deltoides and P. juliflora undergo pronounced midday depression in A and g_s while A. auriculiformis showed a one-peak response. Several factors indicative of photosynthetic performance were found to be reversibly affected during afternoon decline. These include (i) decrease in initial slope of the CO₂ response curve (carboxylation efficiency), (ii) substantial increase in CO₂ compensation point and (iii) decrease in overall quantum yield of photosystem II. The phenomenon can be duplicated in potted plants by simulating a typical daily pattern of PPFD and VPD. It is found that high VPD induces significant decline in A and g_s at moderate temperature and saturating PPFD (800 μmol m^–2 s^–1) whereas these parameters are only marginally affected at high PPFD and low VPD. Fluorescence data show that the tree species under study have a high capacity for safe dissipation of excessive excitation energy. The activation of photorespiration, as evident from an increase in CO₂ compensation point, maintains constant internal CO₂ concentration (C_i) which may aid in minimizing photoinhibition during stomatal closure at midday. In case of P. deltoides and P. juliflora the stomata seem to be quite sensitive to the changes in humidity whereas this does not appear to be essential in case of A. auriculiformis because of its phyllode structure that endows it with mechanisms for conserving water without undergoing large-scale stomatal changes. Received: 16 October 1997 / Accepted: 5 March 1998     

Are inbred offspring less fit? Survival in a natural population of Mexican jays

The importance of inbreeding avoidance for the fitness of individualsis currently undergoing reevahation. Especially when the frequencyof inbreeding is low, it may be difficult to accumulate sufficientinformation. In a long-term study of the Mexican jay (Aphelocomaultamarina) in Arizona, we found inbreeding, as determined bypedigree, to be rare even though this species exhibits strongnatal philopatry and commonly lives in social groups of closerelatives. Brood sizes of inbred pairs were significantly lowerthan those of outbred pairs, suggesting hatching failure; butthere was no difference in die probability that one or moreyoung would fledge from a nest. Survival of inbred nestlingsto die next year was significantly lower than that of outbrednestlings.     

Inbreeding and outcrossing in Yucca whipplei: consequences for the reproductive success of plant and pollinator

Unlike most pollinators, yucca moths are active pollinators of their host plants. Females lay their eggs in the flowers they pollinate, and their larvae feed solely on the resulting seeds. Previous evidence suggests that the yucca moth Tegeticula maculata avoids self-pollinating their host Yucca whipplei . Other yucca moths may self-pollinate more frequently. When pollinating, yucca moths are also reported to fly large distances between plants, bypassing neighbouring plants in the process. We experimentally verify the suggestion of Pellmyr et al . that yucca is more likely to retain fruits from self-pollination if overall fruit set is low. Thus, selection on moths to avoid self-pollinating should be density dependent. We found no evidence that mating with close neighbours resulted in inbreeding depression, thus the moth's long-distance flights between plants are yet to be explained.     

Primate Torpor:Regulation of Stress-activated Protein Kinases During Daily Torpor in the Gray Mouse Lemur,Microcebus murinus

Very few selected species of primates are known to be capable of entering torpor. This exciting discovery means that the ability to enter a natural state of dormancy is an ancestral trait among primate...     

Regulation of the PI3K/AKT Pathway and Fuel Utilization During Primate Torpor in the Gray Mouse Lemur,Microcebus murinus

Gray mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus) from Madagascar present an excellent model for studies of torpor regulation in a primate species. In the present study, we analyzed the response of the insulin si...     

创伤后应激障碍对慢性不可预见性应激抑郁模型的影响

目的:观察创伤后应激障碍(PTSD)对慢性不可预见性应激(CUS)抑郁模型的影响。方法:采用足底电击的方法建立大鼠创伤后应激障碍模型。成年雄性S-D大鼠40只随机分为四组(n=10):对照组(C组)、PTSD组、CUS组、PTSD+CUS组(P+C组)。在1、7、14、21天测量大鼠体重,并行糖水偏好和强迫游泳实验,在7、14、21天做条件性恐惧实验。结果:与C组相比,CUS组和P+C组体重增加缓慢,PTSD组体重正常。CUS组于第21天出现糖水消耗比例降低,强迫游泳不动时间增加。P+C组于第14天即出现上述抑郁表现。条件性恐惧实验中,PTSD组与PTSD+CUS组僵直时间显著增加,CUS组无明显变化。结论:创伤后应激障碍的动物更易产生抑郁表现。