Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of bilaterally symmetrical organisms has been introduced as a promising indicator of environmental stress. Stress factors reported to contribute to developmental stability include inbreeding and the presence of resistance genes. In the current study we examined the effect of stress derived from high developmental temperatures, resistance genes and low genetic variation on life history variables and wing FA in Culex pipiens mosquitoes. Three strains were compared: two inbred laboratory strains sharing a similar genetic background but differing in that one strain contained organophosphate (OP) resistance genes, and a third strain that was an outbred OP resistant field strain recently collected from India. There were no strong and general trends that suggested that the OP resistant lab strain was less fit than the OP susceptible strain, although there were some specific among strain differences for some treatments. Fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of wing traits was higher in the laboratory strains than the field strain, suggesting that inbreeding may cause elevated FA in the study species. There was no evidence that the resistance genes were associated with increased wing FA. Wing FA increased with increasing developmental temperature in females, but the association was less strong in males. There was a significant difference between the sexes in this respect. The results are discussed with reference to the value of FA as a biomonitor of environmental stress.
An isolated population of the common hamster, forming the western border of the species range in Poland was analysed by the use of 16 microsatellite loci and the mtDNA control region in two consecutive generations. The genetic diversity and the effective population size in this population are low. We found the evidence for ancient bottleneck in this population, but the results of tests for recent reduction of Ne were ambiguous. However, population functions properly i.e. it is in HW equilibrium, Fis and relatedness coefficients do not indicate inbreeding. It indicates that even isolated and small populations of the common hamster have good chance of survival on the condition of the protection and restoration of the habitats. Moreover, the sexrelated differences in dispersal in the common hamster were demonstrated through the relatedness analysis.
In this paper we present new approach to the problem of conservation the small and endangered populations of black grouse. We elaborated and checked in the field non-invasive methods enabling to obtain the genetic material without removing birds from natal populations. The main idea is to mate the tame, especially accustomed hen from the aviary with wild cock. After mating the hen lays the eggs in the aviary and we obtain the first generation which has a half of the gene pool coming from the population of its father. Consecutive, repeated crossing the females from such broods with next wild males leads in few years to bring the genes from original population to the aviary in non-invasive manner. Another method is to collect semen from wild males using a stuffed female. We describe some technical methods of such manipulations with the birds and present some preliminary results. These methods enable obtaining birds bred in aviary for future program of reintroduction.