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Optimal contribution selection in highly fecund species with overlapping generations.

ABSTRACT: Optimal contributions approaches to parental selection in closed breeding populations aim to maximise genetic gains, while restraining long-term inbreeding. The adoption of optimal contribution selection (OCS) in highly-fecund outcrossing species presents a number of challenges not applicable to species of low fecundity (e.g. livestock) for which they were developed. This is particularly true if overlapping-generations or rolling-front breeding strategies are applied, in which case the number of individuals per family in juvenile (i.e. sexually immature) age groups is not necessarily known but is likely to be large. In these circumstances, conventional OCS procedures must be modified or a large number of dummy individuals defined, making computations onerous. Here, an approach to OCS is presented that involves the use of 'between-family relationship matrices' instead of 'between-individual relationship matrices'. The method is applicable to breeding programs involving highly fecund outcrossing species with overlapping generations, including circumstances where the number of juveniles per family is unknown but large.

SUBMITTER: Hamilton MG

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7846093 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Optimal Contribution Selection in Highly Fecund Species With Overlapping Generations.

Hamilton Matthew G MG

The Journal of heredity 20201201 7

Optimal contributions approaches to parental selection in closed breeding populations aim to maximize genetic gains, while restraining long-term inbreeding. The adoption of optimal contribution selection (OCS) in highly fecund outcrossing species presents a number of challenges not applicable to species of low fecundity (e.g., livestock) for which they were developed. This is particularly true if overlapping-generations or rolling-front breeding strategies are applied, in which case the number o ...[more]

PMID: 33249481

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Project description:Tree cavities are important denning sites for many arboreal mammals. Knowledge of cavity requirements of individual species, as well as potential den overlap among species, is integral to their conservation. In Australia's tropical savannas, development of tree cavities is enhanced by high termite activity, and, conversely, reduced by frequent fires. However, it is poorly understood how the availability of tree cavities in the tropical savannas impacts tree cavity use and selection by cavity-dependent fauna. There has been a severe decline among arboreal mammal species in northern Australia over recent decades. Investigation of their cavity requirements may illuminate why these species have declined drastically in some areas but are persisting in others. Here we examined this issue in three species of arboreal mammals (Trichosurus vulpecula, Mesembriomys gouldii, Conilurus penicillatus) on Melville Island, northern Australia. We radiotracked individuals to their den sites to evaluate whether the species differ in their den tree and tree-cavity selection. The strongest influence on den tree selection was the presence of large cavities (> 10 cm entrance diameter), with all three species using larger cavities most frequently. Conilurus penicillatus, the smallest species, differed the most from the other species: it frequently was found in smaller, dead trees and its den sites were closer to the ground, including in hollow logs. The two larger species had broader den tree use, using larger live trees and dens higher up in the canopy. Dens of C. penicillatus are likely to be more susceptible to predation and destruction by high-intensity savanna fires. This may have contributed to this species' rapid decline, both on Melville Island and on the mainland. However, the apparent preference for larger tree cavities by all three arboreal species is concerning due to the limited availability of large trees across Australian savannas, which are subject to frequent, high-intensity fires.

Dataset Information

Optimal contribution selection in highly fecund species with overlapping generations.

Publications

Optimal Contribution Selection in Highly Fecund Species With Overlapping Generations.

Similar Datasets

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