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Hailer, F.
Low variability on the Y chromosome of lynxes (_Lynx lynx_) in Europe
2001 Full Book
To gain more knowledge about effective population size and inbreeding is an important conservation goal. And a major conservation management issue is whether gene flow exists between populations. Genetic studies using Y chromosomes have proved to contribute interesting information about male population history and migration patterns. In this study, conducted on 105 lynx males from 7 European countries revealed that all individuals had the identical Y haplotypes. This can be due either to (1) overall low genetic variability or to the fact that (2) the Y chromosome, as a non-recombining element with low effective population size, exhibits only little variation between closely related populations. The investigation thus reveals that it is very difficult to detect Y-linked variation and that Y chromosome markers are not always suitable for conservation genetics studies.
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