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Fluctuating asymmetry in populations of British roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) following historical bottlenecks and founder events

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Abstract

The potential impact of population bottlenecks and founder events on genetic diversity and indirect measures of fitness (such as fluctuating asymmetry; FA) has important conservation implications. Here we take advantage of historical events that generated a remnant roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) population in the north of the British Isles that retained diversity, while populations in the south were apparently extirpated during the early mediaeval era. The southern population was later re-established from small founder populations of introduced European roe deer starting in the 19th century. We assess the impact of these events, using the northern remnant population as a reference, based on measures of FA at 16 bilateral cranial traits. Comparing the northern and southern populations we find evidence of differential impact on both the level of FA and the relationship between FA and levels of genetic diversity.

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  1. School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, South Road, UK

    Karis H. Baker & A. Rus Hoelzel

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  1. Karis H. Baker
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Baker, K.H., Hoelzel, A.R. Fluctuating asymmetry in populations of British roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) following historical bottlenecks and founder events. Mamm Biol 78, 387–391 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mambio.2013.02.001

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