Eco-evolutionary extinction and recolonization dynamics reduce genetic load and increase time to extinction in highly inbred populations.

ABSTRACT: Understanding how genetic and ecological effects can interact to shape genetic loads within and across local populations is key to understanding ongoing persistence of systems that should otherwise be susceptible to extinction through mutational meltdown. Classic theory predicts short persistence times for metapopulations comprising small local populations with low connectivity, due to accumulation of deleterious mutations. Yet, some such systems have persisted over evolutionary time, implying the existence of mechanisms that allow metapopulations to avoid mutational meltdown. We first hypothesize a mechanism by which the combination of stochasticity in the numbers and types of mutations arising locally (genetic stochasticity), resulting local extinction, and recolonization through evolvin

SUBMITTER: Charmouh AP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9828521 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature