Captive breeding programs have been used to supplement imperiled populations or to re-establish locally extinct populations. Unfortunately, approximately one-third of supplementation and reintroduction attempts are unsuccessful because animals fail to survive and reproduce in the wild. Genetic diversity of a population is a key variable that can influence fitness and, therefore, survival. Because most breeding programs inadvertently select for adaptation to captivity, genetic diversity is often radically altered. To examine the impacts of captive breeding on vertebrate populations, we established six captive populations of white-footed mice and propagated the populations using three breeding schemes typically used in zoos. The existing pedigree will be supplemented with DNA data to form a complete genetic picture of the captive populations.
Through the use of a multi-faceted assessment of genetic diversity via pedigree, marker, and sequence data, this project will compare the evolution of populations bred and maintained in captivity. By utilizing replicate, experimental populations of white-footed mice propagated via different captive breeding protocols, we will also evaluate the efficacy of theoretical approaches to limiting inbreeding, drift, and selection in captive populations. The resulting data will be useful in understanding how different genes and genomic regions evolve, which will be important in further captive breeding programs for recovery of endangered species and for biomedical research.
