Total allelic relationship (TA) as a possible alternative to the pedigree-derived additive genetic relationship (RA) is defined. The TA measures the actual allelic identity between individuals for loci segregating for the trait concerned. Its value was studied by simulation in populations of different family structure, different numbers of loci, different numbers of alleles per locus, and different heritability levels. The alternative types of relationship matrices were used in mixed model equations to derive best linear unbiased prediction estimates (EBV) of breeding values (BV). Accuracies of evaluations were calculated as correlations of EBV with true breeding values. In populations with random selection and mating, EBVTA derived using TA had higher accuracies than EBVRA derived using RA. In populations with selection, EBVTA was more accurate and resulted in higher responses than selection on EBVRA. We conclude that not accounting for variation in average measures of relationship and identity in state can be important sources of variance of prediction error, and taking account of them increases the accuracy of selection.

[1] We present a statistical analysis on the plasmaspheric mass density derived from the field line resonance (FLR) observations by the Mid-continent MAgnetoseismic Chain (McMAC). McMAC consists of nine stations in the United States and Mexico along the 330 magnetic longitude, spanning L-values between 1.5 and 3.4. Using the gradient method and an automated procedure for FLR detection, we studied a full year of McMAC observations between July 2006 and June 2007. We find that the rate of FLR detection can reach as high as 56% around local noon at L = 2.7, and the detection rates at higher and lower L-values decline due to the occasional presence of the plasmapause and weaker FLR signals, respectively. At L-values between 1.8 and 3.1, the inferred equatorial plasma mass density follows the L-dependence of L À4. By comparing the mass density with the electron density, we found that the ion mass gradually decreased from 1.7 amu at L = 1.8 to 1 amu at L = 3.1. The plasma mass density exhibits an annual variation that maximizes in January, and at L = 2.4 the ratio between January and July densities is 1.6. Our observations also show a local time dependence of plasmaspheric mass density that stays steady in the morning and rises postnoon, a phenomenon that may be attributed to the equatorial ionization anomaly as a part of the plasma neutral coupling at low latitude.

We studied the influence of avian seed dispersal on the structuring of genetic diversity in a population of a tropical tree, Ocotea tenera (Lauraceae). The seeds of O. tenera are principally dispersed by four, relatively specialized, fruit-eating bird species (emerald toucanets, keel-billed toucans, resplendent quetzals, and three-wattled bellbirds). We found high genetic diversity within the overall population and significant, nonrandom structuring of that diversity among subpopulations. Subpopulations contained members of several sibling groups, and most saplings within subpopulations were shown not to be the progeny of adult trees within the same subpopulation. Our data indicate that O. tenera subpopulations are founded with several seeds from few maternal families, and that this mode of establishment is an important determinant of population genetic architecture.

Comparisons of population genetic diversity between related rare and widespread species provide valuable insights to the consequences of rarity and are critical for conservation planning. Population genetic diversity of A. maritima, a rare species, was compared with its common, widespread congener A. serrulata to evaluate the impacts of small population size and high isolation on genetic diversity in A. maritima and to provide population genetic data to be used in conservation planning for A. maritima. Genetic data were also used to evaluate whether the disjunct distribution of A. maritima was due to range reduction or anthropogenic dispersal. Genetic diversity was lower in A. maritima (H(e) = 0.217) than in A. serrulata (H(e) = 0.268), and there is also higher inbreeding within A. maritima populations (f = 0.483) than A. serrulata populations (f = 0.269). The partitioning of genetic variation was also higher among A. maritima populations (Θ = 0.278), but not significantly different from that of A. serrulata (Θ = 0.197). Significant genetic differences among A. maritima populations support using local populations as seed sources for regional conservation efforts. The results also indicate that the highly disjunct distribution of A. maritima is due to natural range reduction in the past and not anthropogenic establishment of Oklahoma and Georgia populations.

Cow herd life adjusted for lactational milk production was investigated as a genetic trait in the breeding objective. Under a simple model, the relative economic weight of milk to adjusted herd life on a per genetic standard deviation basis was equal to CVY/dCVL where CVY and CVL are the genetic coefficients of variation of milk production and adjusted herd life, respectively, and d is the depreciation per year per cow divided by the total fixed costs per year per cow. The relative economic value of milk to adjusted herd life at the prices and parameters for North America was about 3.2. An increase of 100-kg milk was equivalent to 2.2 mo of adjusted herd life. Three to 7% lower economic gain is expected when only improved milk production is sought compared with a breeding objective that included both production and adjusted herd life for relative value changed +/- 20%. A favorable economic gain to cost ratio probably exists for herd life used as a genetic trait to supplement milk in the breeding objective. Cow survival records are inexpensive, and herd life evaluations from such records may not extend the generation interval when such an evaluation is used in bull sire selection.