Effective population size in the captive breeding program of the Lake Victoria cichlid Paralabidochromis chilotes

Abstract

Microsatellite DNA markers were used to monitor levels of genetic variation in 3 generations of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association [AZA] Species Survival Plan [SSP] captive breeding program for the Lake Victoria cichlid Paralabidochromis chilotes. Temporal changes in the frequency of 15 alleles, across four polymorphic loci, were used to estimate effective population size (Ne). The upper limit of the 95% confidence interval for Ne never exceeded eight individuals, with all of the corresponding Ne/N ratios falling below 0.15. A test of the proportion of expected heterozygous individuals between the F1 and F3 generations indicated a significant decline in expected heterozygosity of 5% per generation. Alternative husbandry protocols, including subdividing the captive population, are addressed to reduce the further loss of genetic variation. Zoo Biol 18:215–222, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.