effective population size

views updated May 29 2018

effective population size The average number of individuals in a population that actually contribute genes to succeeding generations. This number is generally rather lower than the observed, censused, population size, being reduced by the following factors:
a. a higher proportion of one sex may mate;

b. some individuals will pass on more genes by having more offspring in a lifetime than others;

c. any severe past reduction in population size may result in the random loss of particular genotypes.

effective population size

views updated May 29 2018

effective population size The average number of individuals in a population that actually contribute genes to succeeding generations by breeding. This number is generally rather lower than the observed, censused, population size, being reduced by the following factors:
a. a higher proportion of one sex may mate;

b. some individuals will pass on more genes by having more offspring in a lifetime than others; and

c. any severe past reduction in population size may result in the random loss of particular genotypes.

effective population size

views updated Jun 11 2018

effective population size The average number of individuals in a population that actually contribute genes to succeeding generations by breeding. This number is generally rather lower than the observed, censused, population size, being reduced by the following factors: (a)a higher proportion of one sex may mate;(b)some individuals will pass on more genes by having more offspring in a lifetime than others;(c)any severe past reduction in population size may result in the random loss of particular genotypes.