14.6.6 Program for monitoring populations (2024)
- Tessa Jacobs
- Kor Oldenbroek
The Retriever and Pointer software has been developed by the Centre for Genetic Resources The Netherlands for genetic management of (small) captive populations.
The Retriever program uses as input pedigree data and extracts data on the population structure that influence inbreeding rates such as the phenomenon that popular sires get a lot of offspring and less popular sires only a few. Levels and rates of inbreeding and kinship and effective population sizes are determined as well.
Data on population structure calculated by the Retriever program can be used as input for the Pointer program. This program uses stochastic simulation to evaluate a population and provides expected levels and rates of inbreeding and kinship, and optionally allelic diversity. The user can simulate different options for genetic management such as sire restrictions on the number of matings, restrictions on inbreeding levels, mean kinships (genetic relationships) and the effect of mating structures in a population, e.g. breeding circles.
Both Retriever and Pointer can analyze populations with subpopulations and different rates of exchange between them. Although originally developed for dogs, the software can be, and has been, used for any captive population including livestock and zoo populations, and a number of examples are provided. The pointer software is also suitable in education where students may generate their own populations and evaluate effects of different population structures and genetic management on genetic diversity. Input is provided via a graphical user interface. The software can be downloaded for free: