Low Persistence of Genetic Rescue Across Generations in the Arctic Fox (Vulpes lagopus).

ABSTRACT: Genetic rescue can facilitate the recovery of small and isolated populations suffering from inbreeding depression. Long-term effects are however complex, and examples spanning over multiple generations under natural conditions are scarce. The aim of this study was to test for long-term effects of natural genetic rescue in a small population of Scandinavian Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus). By combining a genetically verified pedigree covering almost 20 years with a long-term dataset on individual fitness (n = 837 individuals), we found no evidence for elevated fitness in immigrant F2 and F3 compared to native inbred foxes. Population inbreeding levels showed a fluctuating increasing trend and emergence of inbreeding within immigrant lineages shortly after immigration. Between 0-5 and 6-9 year

SUBMITTER: Lotsander A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8141685 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature