Fine-scale spatial variation in fitness, inbreeding, and inbreeding depression in a wild ungulate.

ABSTRACT: Environmental stress can exacerbate inbreeding depression by amplifying differences between inbred and outbred individuals. In wild populations, where the environment is often unpredictable and stress can be highly detrimental, the interplay between inbreeding depression and environmental variation is potentially important. Here, we investigate variation in inbreeding level, fitness and strength of inbreeding depression across a fine-scale geographic area (~12 km²) in an individually monitored population of red deer (Cervus elaphus). We show that northern regions of the study area have lower birth weights, lower juvenile survival rates, and higher inbreeding coefficients. Such fine-scale differences in inbreeding coefficients could be caused by the mating system of red de

SUBMITTER: Hewett AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11968190 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature