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Mutation load and the extinction of large populations

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  • Bernardes, A.T.

Abstract

In the time evolution of finite populations, the accumulation of harmful mutations in further generations might lead to a temporal decay in the mean fitness of the whole population that, after sufficient time, would reduce population size and so lead to extinction. This joint action of mutation load and population reduction is called Mutational Meltdown and is usually considered only to occur in small asexual or very small sexual populations. However, the problem of extinction cannot be discussed in a proper way if one previously assumes the existence of an equilibrium state, as initially discussed in this paper. By performing simulations in a genetically inspired model for time-changing populations, we show that mutational meltdown also occurs in large asexual populations and that the mean time to extinction is a nonmonotonic function of the selection coefficient. The stochasticity of the extinction process is also discussed. The extinction of small sexual N ∼ 700 populations is shown and our results confirm the assumption that the existence of recombination might be a powerful mechanism to avoid extinction.

Suggested Citation

  • Bernardes, A.T., 1996. "Mutation load and the extinction of large populations," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 230(1), pages 156-173.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:phsmap:v:230:y:1996:i:1:p:156-173
    DOI: 10.1016/0378-4371(96)00059-3
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    1. Kimura, Eiichi, 1965. "Der Ursprung der Lloyd’s Seeversicherungspolice," Hitotsubashi Journal of commerce and management, Hitotsubashi University, vol. 3(1), pages 27-49, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Holmström, Kerstin & Jensen, Henrik Jeldtoft, 2004. "Who runs fastest in an adaptive landscape: sexual versus asexual reproduction," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 337(1), pages 185-195.

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