Figure 2: Some of the forces contributing to patterns of contemporary genetic diversity within populations. A changing environment (e.g. glacial-interglacial periods through the Pleistocene) impacts population size and the relative strength of genetic drift. However, the population can become adapted to new environmental conditions through natural selection, potentially also impacting on population size. Finally, genetic drift will impact the efficacy of natural selection in the population. de Jong et al. (2020) examine the interaction of these forces in roe deer (Capreolus spp.), focussing particularly on European roe deer (C. capreolus).
[ Fig. 3 uploaded separately as pdf]