Does recognized genetic management in supportive breeding prevent genetic changes in life-history traits?

ABSTRACT: Supportive breeding is one of the last resort conservation strategies to avoid species extinction. Management of captive populations is challenging because several harmful genetic processes need to be avoided. Several recommendations have been proposed to limit these deleterious effects, but empirical assessments of these strategies remain scarce. We investigated the outcome of a genetic management in a supportive breeding for the Houbara Bustard. At the phenotypic level, we found an increase over generations in the mean values of gamete production, body mass and courtship display rate. Using an animal model, we found that phenotypic changes reflected genetic changes as evidenced by an increase in breeding values for all traits. These changes resulted from selection acting on gamete produc

SUBMITTER: Charge R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4055174 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature