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Molecular Ecology and Evolution: Approaches and Applications pp 299–310Cite as

Birkhäuser

Allozymes in mammalian population genetics and systematics: Indicative function of a marker system reconsidered

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Part of the book series: Experientia Supplementum ((EXS,volume 69))

Summary

Data from an extensive research project on lagomorphs were compiled and re-analyzed from a synoptical point of view for examining the indicative function of allozymic variation. Empirical data suggested the Shannon-Weaver information index to be a better indicator of allelic diversity than expected average heterozygosity. There were differences in polymorphism among various structural and physiological classes of enzymes. Reliable estimates of gene diversity and genetic distances can be obtained only if more than 30 loci are examined. At the population level, allozymic diversity was not related to morphological variation. It was, however, indicative of increased developmental homeostasis as assessed by overall fluctuating asymmetry in non-metric morphological traits. Allozymes served well for fully resolving genetic differentiation among populations and for assessing levels of migration, whereas mtDNA and morphological data provided only additional information. The results are discussed with respect to data from other mammalian taxa.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Forschungsinstitut für Wildtierkunde und Ökologie, Veterinärmedizinischen Universität Wien, Savoyenstraße 1, A-1160, Vienna, Austria

    G. B. Hartl, R. Willing & K. Nadlinger

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  1. G. B. Hartl
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  2. R. Willing
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  3. K. Nadlinger
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Zoologisches Institut, Universität Frankfurt, Siesmayerstr. 70, D-60054, Frankfurt, Germany

    B. Schierwater  & B. Streit  & 

  2. Department of Biology, Yale University, 165 Prospect St., New Haven, CT, 06511, USA

    G. P. Wagner

  3. Department of Entomology, American Museum of Natural History, 79th Street at Central Park West, New York, NY, 10024, USA

    R. DeSalle

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© 1994 Springer Basel AG

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Hartl, G.B., Willing, R., Nadlinger, K. (1994). Allozymes in mammalian population genetics and systematics: Indicative function of a marker system reconsidered. In: Schierwater, B., Streit, B., Wagner, G.P., DeSalle, R. (eds) Molecular Ecology and Evolution: Approaches and Applications. Experientia Supplementum, vol 69. Birkhäuser, Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-7527-1_18

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-7527-1_18

  • Publisher Name: Birkhäuser, Basel

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-0348-7529-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-0348-7527-1

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