Conservation genetics of population bottlenecks: the role of chance, selection, and history
Abstract
Conservation genetics studies of populations bottlenecks are commonly framed under the detrimental paradigm of inbreeding depression. This conceptual paradigm presupposes a direct and unambiguous relationship between population size, genetic diversity, fitness, and extinction. Here, I review a series of studies that emphasize the role of chance, selection, and history in determining the genetic consequences of population bottlenecks. The variable responses of bottlenecks to fitness, phenotypic variation, and heritable variation emphasize the necessity to explore the relationship between molecular genetic diversity, fitness, adaptive genetic diversity, and extinction beyond the detrimental paradigm of inbreeding depression. Implications for conservation and management are presented as guidelines and testable predictions regarding the potential effects of bottlenecks on population viability and extinction.
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Endangered populations that have experienced severe demographic bottlenecks often exhibit reduced genetic diversity and an accumulation of deleterious alleles, making them more vulnerable to extinction.
“These populations often exhibit reduced genetic diversity and an accumulation of deleterious alleles, making them more vulnerable to extinction.”
From Topological Approaches in Animal Comparative Genomics (2026) · cites this paper as [193]
Cites
The Effects of a Bottleneck on Inbreeding Depression and the Genetic Load
Kirkpatrick, M., & Jarne, P. (2000) · The American Naturalist · doi:10.1086/303312 · Cited by 271 · see citing works
An investigation of inbreeding depression and purging in captive pedigreed populations
Boakes, E. H., Wang, J., & Amos, W. (2007) · Heredity · doi:10.1038/sj.hdy.6800923 · Cited by 217 · cited 3× · see citing works
“review of the experimental evidence by Crnokrak and Barrett (2002) and of studies from captive populations by Boakes et al. (2007) suggest, however, that purging may not be a strong force in small populations.”
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Reliability of genetic bottleneck tests for detecting recent population declines
PEERY, M. Z., KIRBY, R., REID, B. N., STOELTING, R., DOUCET‐BËER, E., ROBINSON, S., VÁSQUEZ‐CARRILLO, C., PAULI, J. N., & PALSBØLL, P. J. (2012) · Molecular Ecology · doi:10.1111/j.1365-294x.2012.05635.x · Cited by 578 · see citing works
Topological Approaches in Animal Comparative Genomics
Schultz, D. T., & Simakov, O. (2026) · Annual Review of Animal Biosciences · doi:10.1146/annurev-animal-030424-084541 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
- Authors
- Bouzat, J. L.
- Affiliations
- Bowling Green State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Bouzat, Juan L.
- ORCID
- Bouzat, Juan L.
- Venue
- Conservation Genetics
- Published
- 2010-02-04
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 463-478
- ISSN
- 1566-0621 (ISSN-L)
- 1572-9737
- OpenAlex
- W2064101936
- Cited by
- 289
- References
- 2
- Citations by year
- 2026: 24 · 2025: 39 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 36 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 14 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 17
- FWCI
- 5.81
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Conservation Genetics (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- European Science Foundation
- European Social Fund
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic diversity and population structure
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Keywords
- population bottleneck, inbreeding depression, genetic diversity, adaptive genetic diversity, population viability, extinction risk, historical demography, heritable variation, population management
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