Effective population size

The effective population size () is a unit in biology, which is used, inter alia, to calculate the minimum viable population ( MVP = minimum viable population ). It is based on the reproduction ability of a population. The total size of a population can be misleading, as not all members of the population are capable of reproduction and their alleles can not pass on to the next generation. Therefore, in order to estimate the minimum viable population sense, the effective population size is calculated using the following formula:

These represent the number of females in the population and the number of males in the population.

If, for example, in a population of 1000 individuals capable of reproduction 400 females and 400 males are capable of reproduction, calculated

= ( 4 × 400 × 400 ) / ( 400 400) = 800 (or 80%).

In fact, the populations studied are always amounts to only a fraction of the total population, since many factors have an influence on individuals and limit their reproductive ability.

The goal of maintaining one that is above the minimum viable population ( MVP), was born from the worry of whether populations have sufficient genetic variability to adapt through evolution can.

  • Population Genetics
  • Theoretical Ecology
  • Evolution
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