<p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The extinction risk of threatened species has traditionally been assessed by the use of tools of Population Viability Analysis (PVA). Species interactions, however, have seldom been accounted for in PVA:s. The omission of species interactions in risk assessments may further lead to serious mistakes when setting target sizes of populations. Even a slight abundance decrease of a target species may result in changes of the community structure; in the worst case leading to a highly impoverished community. Of critical importance to conservation is therefore the question of how many individuals of a certain population that is needed in order to avoid this kind of consequences. In the current study, a stochastic multispecies model is used to estimate minimum ecological viable populations (MEVP); earlier defined as “the minimum size of a population that can survive before itself or some other species in the community becomes extinct”. The MEVP:s are compared to population sizes given by a single species model where interactions with other species are treated as a constant source incorporated in the species specific growth rate. MEVP:s are found to be larger than the population sizes given by the single species model. The results are trophic level dependent and multispecies approaches are suggested to be of major importance when setting target levels for species at the basal level. Species at higher trophic levels, however, are altogether more prone to extinction than species at the basal level, irrespective of food web size and food web complexity.</p><p> </p>

<p>Sex chromosomes are useful for the study of how factors such as mutation, selection, recombination and effective population size affect diversity and divergence.</p><p>A comparison of gametologous introns in seven different bird species revealed a complete lack of diversity on the female-specific W chromosome. In contrast, Z had at least one segregating site in all examined species. This can be explained by the lower mutation rate and lower effective population size of W but also suggests that selection affects diversity levels on the non-recombining W chromosome.</p><p>In a diverse set of chicken breeds, the Z chromosome showed reduced diversity compared to autosomes and significant heterogeneity in levels of variation. High variance in male reproductive success, leading to a reduced Z chromosome effective population size, can partly explain this observation. In addition, we suggest that selective sweeps frequently act on the Z chromosome and are responsible for a significant part of the observed Z reduction. </p><p>Differences in the mutation rate of Z and W chromosome sequences indicate that the time spent in male germ line is important for the mutation rate, but does not exclude a specifically reduced mutation rate on the Z chromosome. Estimates of mutation rate in autosomal, Z- and W-linked chicken and turkey sequences indicate a slight reduction in the rate on Z. However, due to rate heterogeneity among introns this reduction is not significant and we cannot exclude male biased mutation as the single cause of rate variation between the chromosomal classes.</p><p>Analysis of indel mutation rates in avian and mammalian gametologous introns show frequent occurrence of indels on both W and Y, excluding meiotic recombination as the only source of this type of mutation. The different indel rate patterns in birds (Z>W) and mammals (X=Y) suggest that indels are caused by both replication and recombination.</p>

Sex chromosomes are useful for the study of how factors such as mutation, selection, recombination and effective population size affect diversity and divergence. A comparison of gametologous introns in seven different bird species revealed a complete lack of diversity on the female-specific W chromosome. In contrast, Z had at least one segregating site in all examined species. This can be explained by the lower mutation rate and lower effective population size of W but also suggests that selection affects diversity levels on the non-recombining W chromosome. In a diverse set of chicken breeds, the Z chromosome showed reduced diversity compared to autosomes and significant heterogeneity in levels of variation. High variance in male reproductive success, leading to a reduced Z chromosome effective population size, can partly explain this observation. In addition, we suggest that selective sweeps frequently act on the Z chromosome and are responsible for a significant part of the observed Z reduction. Differences in the mutation rate of Z and W chromosome sequences indicate that the time spent in male germ line is important for the mutation rate, but does not exclude a specifically reduced mutation rate on the Z chromosome. Estimates of mutation rate in autosomal, Z- and W-linked chicken and turkey sequences indicate a slight reduction in the rate on Z. However, due to rate heterogeneity among introns this reduction is not significant and we cannot exclude male biased mutation as the single cause of rate variation between the chromosomal classes. Analysis of indel mutation rates in avian and mammalian gametologous introns show frequent occurrence of indels on both W and Y, excluding meiotic recombination as the only source of this type of mutation. The different indel rate patterns in birds (Z&gt;W) and mammals (X=Y) suggest that indels are caused by both replication and recombination.

The aims of this thesis were to evaluate the effects of agriculture on amphibians in terms of (i) population genetic consequences of agriculture-induced spatial changes of the landscape and (ii) local adaptation and tolerance to frequently used agrochemicals. The study was performed using the common frog Rana temporaria as a model. Abundance, occurrence, genetic diversity and gene flow were negatively affected by agriculture in southern Sweden, but unaffected or even positively affected by agriculture in the central and northern regions, respectively. These test parameters correlated positively with landscape diversity both in the south and in the north. Moreover, the size and occurrence of R. temporaria populations decreased towards the north i.e. the margin of the species’ distribution range. In accordance with theoretical expectations, genetic variability decreased and population substructuring increased as a negative function of (effective) population size. Southern Swedish common frogs are naturally exposed to higher levels of nitrates, and thus have a higher tolerance to high nitrate levels than their northern conspecifics. This suggests local adaptation to naturally varying nitrate levels. Consequently, increased anthropogenic supplementation of nitrate could impact more the northern than the southern Swedish common frog populations. Exposure to the pesticides azoxystrobin, cyanazine and permethrin at ecologically relevant concentrations had small or no effects on R. temporaria tadpoles. The populations with lowest microsatellite variation (fragmented populations) in southern Sweden had considerably lower fitness in terms of survival and growth as compared to those with the highest genetic variability (non-fragmented populations). The results indicate that populations with low levels of neutral genetic variability were phenotypically less differentiated than populations with higher levels of variability. One possible explanation for this is that the degree of population differentiation in low variability populations has been constrained due to lack of suitable genetic variation or inefficiency of selection relative to genetic drift.

The extinction risk of threatened species has traditionally been assessed by the use of tools of Population Viability Analysis (PVA). Species interactions, however, have seldom been accounted for in PVA:s. The omission of species interactions in risk assessments may further lead to serious mistakes when setting target sizes of populations. Even a slight abundance decrease of a target species may result in changes of the community structure; in the worst case leading to a highly impoverished community. Of critical importance to conservation is therefore the question of how many individuals of a certain population that is needed in order to avoid this kind of consequences. In the current study, a stochastic multispecies model is used to estimate minimum ecological viable populations (MEVP); earlier defined as “the minimum size of a population that can survive before itself or some other species in the community becomes extinct”. The MEVP:s are compared to population sizes given by a single species model where interactions with other species are treated as a constant source incorporated in the species specific growth rate. MEVP:s are found to be larger than the population sizes given by the single species model. The results are trophic level dependent and multispecies approaches are suggested to be of major importance when setting target levels for species at the basal level. Species at higher trophic levels, however, are altogether more prone to extinction than species at the basal level, irrespective of food web size and food web complexity.

Resumo: O objetivo deste estudo foi estimar parâmetros genéticos para caracteres de crescimento e forma em um teste de progênies de Eucalyptus cloeziana, com 24 anos de idade, estabelecido em Luiz Antônio, SP. O teste foi instalado com sementes de polinização aberta provenientes de 35 árvores matrizes oriundas de Helenvale e Cardwell St. Forest, Austrália. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso, com parcela composta por apenas uma planta, com 100 repetições. O ensaio foi mensurado aos 24 anos de idade para diâmetro a altura do peito (DAP), altura total, volume e forma. Foram detectadas diferenças significativas entre progênies para todos os caracteres avaliados. Foram detectados altos coeficientes de variação genética e herdabilidade para todos os caracteres estudados, o que demonstra um forte controle genético na herança destes e a possibilidade de se obter altos ganhos com a seleção massal e individual entre e dentro de progênies. Os ganhos esperados para plantios com 24 anos de idade, realizados em locais com as mesmas características ambientais de Luiz Antônio e com sementes coletadas após a seleção no teste de progênies, foram estimados em 42,91% para DAP e 16,82% para altura / Abstract: The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameter for growth and stem shape traits in a progeny test of Eucalyptus cloeziana, at 24 years old, established in Luiz Antônio, SP. The trial was established with open-pollinated seeds from 35 mother trees from provenances Helenvale and Cardwell St. Forest, Australia. The trial was established in a random block design, with single tree plots and 100 replications. The trial was measured at 24 years old of age for diameter at breast height (DBH), total height, volume and stem shape. All studied traits presented significant differences among progenies. All studied traits presented also high coefficient of variation and heritability, showing a strong genetic control in this traits and the possibility to obtain genetic gains by massal and among and within progenies selection. The expected genetic gains for stands with 24 years old, growing in sites with the same environmental characteristics of Luiz Antônio and with seeds collected after selection in the progeny test were estimated in 42.91% for DAP and 16.82% for height / Orientador: Miguel Luiz Menezes Freitas / Coorientador: Mario Luiz Teixeira de Moraes / Banca: Walter Veriano Valério Filho / Banca: Rinaldo César de Paula / Mestre

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:29:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-03-26Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T21:00:02Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 berti_clf_me_ilha.pdf: 1147349 bytes, checksum: 79588686dea2715fc03a56db3c25b881 (MD5) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / O objetivo deste estudo foi estimar parâmetros genéticos para caracteres de crescimento e forma em um teste de progênies de Eucalyptus cloeziana, com 24 anos de idade, estabelecido em Luiz Antônio, SP. O teste foi instalado com sementes de polinização aberta provenientes de 35 árvores matrizes oriundas de Helenvale e Cardwell St. Forest, Austrália. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso, com parcela composta por apenas uma planta, com 100 repetições. O ensaio foi mensurado aos 24 anos de idade para diâmetro a altura do peito (DAP), altura total, volume e forma. Foram detectadas diferenças significativas entre progênies para todos os caracteres avaliados. Foram detectados altos coeficientes de variação genética e herdabilidade para todos os caracteres estudados, o que demonstra um forte controle genético na herança destes e a possibilidade de se obter altos ganhos com a seleção massal e individual entre e dentro de progênies. Os ganhos esperados para plantios com 24 anos de idade, realizados em locais com as mesmas características ambientais de Luiz Antônio e com sementes coletadas após a seleção no teste de progênies, foram estimados em 42,91% para DAP e 16,82% para altura / The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameter for growth and stem shape traits in a progeny test of Eucalyptus cloeziana, at 24 years old, established in Luiz Antônio, SP. The trial was established with open-pollinated seeds from 35 mother trees from provenances Helenvale and Cardwell St. Forest, Australia. The trial was established in a random block design, with single tree plots and 100 replications. The trial was measured at 24 years old of age for diameter at breast height (DBH), total height, volume and stem shape. All studied traits presented significant differences among progenies. All studied traits presented also high coefficient of variation and heritability, showing a strong genetic control in this traits and the possibility to obtain genetic gains by massal and among and within progenies selection. The expected genetic gains for stands with 24 years old, growing in sites with the same environmental characteristics of Luiz Antônio and with seeds collected after selection in the progeny test were estimated in 42.91% for DAP and 16.82% for height

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-10-13T19:51:52Z No. of bitstreams: 1 ceciliafonsecapoggian.pdf: 268787 bytes, checksum: 5898d68297ebccdcc7f27145276525da (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-10-22T13:01:59Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 ceciliafonsecapoggian.pdf: 268787 bytes, checksum: 5898d68297ebccdcc7f27145276525da (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-22T13:01:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ceciliafonsecapoggian.pdf: 268787 bytes, checksum: 5898d68297ebccdcc7f27145276525da (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-02-26 / CNPq - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / FAPEMIG - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais / Os animais da raça Guzerá, bem adaptados às condições tropicais do Brasil, têm sido utilizados para produção de leite e carne. Em função da redução do tamanho efetivo da população, a probabilidade de endogamia e deriva genética na raça tem aumentado. Em 1994, iniciou-se o Programa Nacional de Melhoramento da Raça para leite por meio do teste de progênie e do núcleo MOET de seleção. O sucesso deste programa pode ser comprometido pelo aumento do coeficiente de endogamia (F) e perda de diversidade genética na raça, pois os animais de maior valor genético são mais utilizados para reprodução. O objetivo deste trabalho foi examinar a diversidade genética da população Guzerá selecionada para leite no Brasil, calcular a endogamia na raça e avaliar seus efeitos sobre características produtivas e reprodutivas, visando monitorar a variabilidade genética e orientar acasalamentos. Dados genealógicos de 10.051 animais nascidos até 2007 foram usados para estimação dos parâmetros populacionais. O coeficiente médio de endogamia dos animais endogâmicos foi 0,025, e o aumento esperado da endogamia, devido à contribuição não balanceada dos fundadores, foi 0,16%. O coeficiente de relação médio entre os indivíduos da população foi estimado em 1,06%, e o intervalo de gerações, em 7,48 anos. A média do tamanho efetivo populacional por geração foi 77, o número efetivo de fundadores, 318, o número efetivo de ancestrais, 101, e o efeito gargalo, 3,15. Dos 2.106 ancestrais, 47 foram responsáveis por 50% da diversidade genética da população referência. As características produção total de leite, produção de leite aos 305 dias de lactação, produção total de gordura, produção total de proteína e idade ao primeiro parto foram afetadas negativamente (p<0,05) pelo aumento do coeficiente de endogamia. Os valores médios de F, até o momento, são baixos, porém, o reduzido tamanho efetivo da população indica riscos de endogamia e perda de variabilidade genética na raça Guzerá selecionada para leite no Brasil. / Animals of the Guzerat breed have strongly fitted to tropical conditions of Brazil, and have been used for milk and beef production. The probability of inbreeding and genetic drift increases due to reduction in the effective population size. In 1994, a selection program for milk production traits was initiated in some purebred herds, using progeny test and MOET nucleus. Its success, otherwise, can be endangered by increase in inbreeding coefficient (F) and loss of genetic diversity, since animals with high genetic value have more chance to reproduce. This study was undertaken to evaluate the evolution and the current genetic status of the Guzerat cattle under milk selection, aiming to monitor the genetic variability and guide matings. Genealogical data of 10,051 animals born until 2007 were used to estimate population parameters. The average F for all inbred animals included in this data set was 0.025 and the increase of inbreeding by unbalancing of founders contribution was 0.16%. The average relationship coefficient was 1.06% and the generation interval was 7.48 years. The mean effective population size by generation was 77, the effective number of founders and effective number of ancestors for the reference population were, respectively, 318 and 101. The bottleneck effect was 3.15. Of 2,106 ancestors, 47 contributed to 50% of the reference population. Total milk production, milk production at 305 days of lactation, total fat production, total protein production and age at first calving was negatively affected (p<0.05) by the increase in F. Average F values and regression coefficients are still low, but the reduced effective population parameters indicates risk of inbreeding, genetic drift and, consequently, loss of variability in the Guzerat breed under milk selection in Brazil.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a estrutura populacional, estimar parâmetros (coeficientes de herdabilidade e correlações) e determinar as tendências genéticas e fenotípicas de características de crescimento e adaptação em bovinos da raça Nelore, linhagem Lemgruber. O banco de dados utilizado nas análises constituiu-se de 39.290 animais no arquivo de pedigree e de 24.353 animais no arquivo de produção. Os parâmetros populacionais foram obtidos por meio dos softwares POPREP (GROENEVELD et al., 2009) e ENDOG v 3.2 (GUTIÉRREZ e GOYACHE, 2005). As estatísticas descritivas e os parâmetros genéticos para cada característica estudada foram estimadas por meio de quatro análises hepta-característica utilizando o programa VCE-6 (KOVAC & GROENEVELD, 2003) sob modelo animal completo. As tendências genéticas e fenotípicas foram obtidas pela regressão dos valores genéticos e fenotípicos respectivamente sobre o ano de nascimento dos animais e os coeficientes da regressão foram estimados por meio do método de quadrados mínimos. Apesar da endogamia média do rebanho ser considerada moderada verificou-se alta porcentagem de indivíduos endogâmicos e reduzido tamanho efetivo populacional. Além disso, o incremento contínuo de endogamia ao longo dos anos demonstra a necessidade de intervenção na seleção dos indivíduos para reprodução, de modo que, problemas futuros possam ser evitados. Os coeficientes de herdabilidade direta foram estimados em 0,24, 0,31, 0,31, 0,21, 0,19, 0,30, 0,41, 0,19 e 0,17 respectivamente para peso ao nascimento (PN), peso aos 120 dias de idade (P120), peso à desmama (PD), peso ao ano (PES12), ganho de peso pós desmama, de 205 aos 550 dias (GP345), ganho de peso na prova à pasto da ABCZ, em 224 dias (GP224), perímetro escrotal (PE), temperamento (TEMP), e repelência (REP) e indicam que a variabilidade genética aditiva existente é suficiente para a obtenção do ganho genético em resposta à seleção desde que sejam realizados ajustes, tanto nas estratégias de seleção adotadas para a obtenção de maiores ganhos nos valores genéticos, como também nos fatores ambientais que possam possibilitar ao máximo, a expressão do potencial genético dos animais. / The present study had as objective to evaluate the population structure, to estimate parameters (coefficients of heritability and correlation) and to determine the phenotypic and genetic trends for growth and adaptability traits in Nellore cattle, Lemgruber line. The database used in the analysis consisted of 39,290 animals in the pedigree and 24,353 animals in the production file. The population parameters were obtained from the software POPREP (Groeneveld et al., 2009) and ENDOG v 3.2 (Gutierrez and GOYACHE, 2005). The descriptive statistics and genetic parameters for each characteristic studied were estimated by four seven-traits analysis using the program VCE-6 (Kovac & GROENEVELD, 2003) which uses the animal model. The phenotypic and genetic trends were obtained by means of phenotypic and genetic values respectively on the year of birth of the animals and the regression coefficients were estimated by the method of least squares. Although the average inbreeding of the herd being considered moderate, there was high percentage of inbred individuals and small effective population size. Furthermore, the continuous increase in inbreeding over the years demonstrates the need for intervention in the selection of individuals for reproduction, so that future problems can be avoided. Direct heritability coefficients were estimated as 0.24, 0.31, 0.31, 0.21, 0.19, 0.30, 0.41, 0.19 and 0.17 respectively for birth weight (PN), weight 120 days of age (P120), weaning weight (PD), weight at 12 months of age (PES12), weight gain after weaning from 205 to 550 days (GP345), weight gain during the pasture test of ABCZ in 224 days (GP224), scrotal circumference (PE), docility (TEMP) and repellency (REP) and indicate that the additive genetic variability is sufficient to obtain genetic gain in response to selection as far as adjustments in selection strategies are adopted to achieve larger gains in breeding values, and environmental factors that may allow the expression of the genetic potential of the animals.

Individuals vary from each other in their genetic content. Genetic diversity is at the core of the evolutionary theory. Rooted in a solid theoretical framework developed as early as the 1930s, current empirical observations of genomic diversity became possible due to technological advances. These measurements, originally based on a few gene sequences from several individuals, are becoming possible at the genome scale for entire populations. We can now explore how evolutionary forces shape diversity levels along different parts of the genome. In this thesis, I focus on the variation in levels of diversity within genomes using avian systems and in particular that of the collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis). First, I describe the variation in genetic diversity along the genome of the collared flycatcher and compare it to the amount of variation in diversity across individuals within the population. I provide guidelines on how a small number of makers can capture the extent of variability in a population. Second, I investigate the stability of the local levels of diversity in the genome across evolutionary time scales by comparing collared flycatcher to the hooded crow (Corvus (corone) corone). Third, I study how selection can maintain variation through pervasive evolutionary conflict between sexes. Lastly, I explore how shifts in genome-wide variant frequencies across few generations can be utilised to estimate the effective size of population.