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Impact of a population bottleneck on symmetry and genetic diversity in the northern elephant seal

  1. Author:
    Hoelzel, A. R.
    Fleischer, R. C.
    Campagna, C.
    Le Boeuf, B. J.
    Alvord, G.

  2. Author Address

    Univ Durham, Dept Biol Sci, South Rd, Durham DH1 3LE, England Univ Durham, Dept Biol Sci, Durham DH1 3LE, England Smithsonian Inst, Natl Zool Pk, Dept Zool Res, Washington, DC 20008 USA Consejo Nacl Invest Cient & Tecn, Ctr Nacl Patagonico, RA-9120 Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina Univ Calif Santa Cruz, Dept Biol, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 USA NCI, Data Management Serv Inc, FCRDC, Frederick, MD 21702 USA Hoelzel AR Univ Durham, Dept Biol Sci, South Rd, Durham DH1 3LE, England
    1. Year: 2002
  2. Journal: Journal of Evolutionary Biology
    1. 15
    2. 4
    3. Pages: 567-575
  4. Type of Article: Article
  1. Abstract:

    The northern elephant seal (NES) suffered a severe population bottleneck towards the end of the nineteenth century. Theoretical expectations for the impact of population bottlenecks include the loss of genetic diversity and a loss of fitness (e.g. through a disruption of developmental stability); however, there are few direct demonstrations in natural populations. Here, we report on the comparison of archive samples collected prior to and following the NES population bottleneck. Measures of genetic diversity show a loss of variation consistent with expectations and suggest a strong disruption in the pattern of allele frequencies following the bottleneck. Measures of bilateral characters show an increase in fluctuating asymmetry.

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