15. Modeling Problems in Conservation Genetics Using Laboratory Animals
267
controversy, as indicated above. Clarification of recommendations, further
experimental evaluations, and further theoretical developments are required.
6. Does the accumulation of mildly detrimental mutations pose an extinction
threat to endangered species? Lande (1995) suggested that this may be as
significant a threat to sexual species as environmental stochasticity and
catastrophes. The first evaluation of this issue in a sexually reproducing
species suggests that it may be of minor importance in conservation (Gilligan
et al. 1997).
7. Is a single large population or several small populations of equivalent total
size the best means for genetically managing endangered species in captivity?
If there are no extinctions, genetic theory favors the several small populations
(Kimura and Crow 1963). Experimental results support these predictions
(Margan et al. 1998).
8. Do population size bottlenecks reduce evolutionary potential? This is a controversial and unresolved issue (see Frankham 1995b).
9. Can population viability assessment (PVA) software be experimentally evaluated? The prediction of the risk of extinction in populations by using PVA
software represents a major advance in conservation biology. However, it is
critical that the predictive powers of such software be tested. Experimental
testing using laboratory species provides one means for doing this.
10. What are the roles of inbreeding, demographic stochasticity, and environmental stochasticity in extinction? This is a matter of great controversy.
Laboratory experimentation has extended our understanding of the potential
role of inbreeding and loss of genetic variation (Frankham 1995b, c). It
should be possible to devise experiments to greatly increase our understanding of the causes of extinction. In fact, the first use of Drosophila to investigate problems in conservation biology was a study of this problem by Forney
and Gilpin (1989).
11. What are the optimum genetic management procedures for selfing species? I
am aware of no relevant laboratory studies of selfing species. Such studies are
urgently required as the management of these species poses issues that cannot
be addressed in outbreeding species. Arabidopsis thaliana is an obvious
candidate, especially as it is now a model species for genome mapping and
sequencing studies in plants, as well as a model plant for developmental
biology, genetics, and molecular biology.
Relationship Between Computer Simulation and Modeling in
Laboratory Animals
Computer simulation provides an invaluable tool for investigating models too
complex to investigate analytically and for checking complex theory. However, its
role is intermediate between that of theory and experimentation with living organisms. Computer simulation does not encompass the full complexity of the living
organism as many parameters are unknown and some variables may yet be
267
controversy, as indicated above. Clarification of recommendations, further
experimental evaluations, and further theoretical developments are required.
6. Does the accumulation of mildly detrimental mutations pose an extinction
threat to endangered species? Lande (1995) suggested that this may be as
significant a threat to sexual species as environmental stochasticity and
catastrophes. The first evaluation of this issue in a sexually reproducing
species suggests that it may be of minor importance in conservation (Gilligan
et al. 1997).
7. Is a single large population or several small populations of equivalent total
size the best means for genetically managing endangered species in captivity?
If there are no extinctions, genetic theory favors the several small populations
(Kimura and Crow 1963). Experimental results support these predictions
(Margan et al. 1998).
8. Do population size bottlenecks reduce evolutionary potential? This is a controversial and unresolved issue (see Frankham 1995b).
9. Can population viability assessment (PVA) software be experimentally evaluated? The prediction of the risk of extinction in populations by using PVA
software represents a major advance in conservation biology. However, it is
critical that the predictive powers of such software be tested. Experimental
testing using laboratory species provides one means for doing this.
10. What are the roles of inbreeding, demographic stochasticity, and environmental stochasticity in extinction? This is a matter of great controversy.
Laboratory experimentation has extended our understanding of the potential
role of inbreeding and loss of genetic variation (Frankham 1995b, c). It
should be possible to devise experiments to greatly increase our understanding of the causes of extinction. In fact, the first use of Drosophila to investigate problems in conservation biology was a study of this problem by Forney
and Gilpin (1989).
11. What are the optimum genetic management procedures for selfing species? I
am aware of no relevant laboratory studies of selfing species. Such studies are
urgently required as the management of these species poses issues that cannot
be addressed in outbreeding species. Arabidopsis thaliana is an obvious
candidate, especially as it is now a model species for genome mapping and
sequencing studies in plants, as well as a model plant for developmental
biology, genetics, and molecular biology.
Relationship Between Computer Simulation and Modeling in
Laboratory Animals
Computer simulation provides an invaluable tool for investigating models too
complex to investigate analytically and for checking complex theory. However, its
role is intermediate between that of theory and experimentation with living organisms. Computer simulation does not encompass the full complexity of the living
organism as many parameters are unknown and some variables may yet be