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Microevolution due to pollution in amphibians: A review on the genetic erosion hypothesis
E Fasola1, R Ribeiro2, I Lopes1
1Department of Biology & CESAM (Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar), University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
Abstract:
The loss of genetic diversity, due to exposure to chemical contamination (genetic erosion), is a major threat to population viability. Genetic erosion is the loss of genetic variation: the loss of alleles determining the value of a specific trait or set of traits. Almost a third of the known amphibian species is considered to be endangered and a decrease of genetic variability can push them to the verge of extinction. This review indicates that loss of genetic variation due to chemical contamination has effects on: 1) fitness, 2) environmental plasticity, 3) co-tolerance mechanisms, 4) trade-off mechanisms, and 5) tolerance to pathogens in amphibian populations.
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