Measuring fitness heritability: Life history traits versus morphological traits in humans

Abstract

Our results demonstrate that, with the exception of lifespan, LHT show lower heritability values, than MT. The lower heritability of LHT is explained by a higher influence of environmental and cultural factors.

Sex-specific additive genetic variances and correlations for fitness in a song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) population subject to natural immigration and inbreeding

“…The few available estimates of sex-specific V A in fitness in wild populations cannot readily be quantitatively compared because different studies used different fitness metrics, analytical methods and estimation scales, with different degrees of paternity error and missing data. However, qualitatively concordant with our results, V A for fitness was estimated to be non-zero and similar in both sexes in collared flycatchers (Ficedula albicollis, Merilä & Sheldon 2000;Brommer et al 2007) and Swedish humans (Zietsch et al 2014 Wheelwright et al 2014); zero in females but more substantial in males in red deer (Cervus elaphus, Kruuk et al 2000, but see Foerster et al 2007 and Austrian humans (Gavrus-Ion et al 2017); yet zero in males but more substantial in females in red-billed gulls (Larus novaehollandiae, Teplitsky et al 2009) and pre-industrial Finnish humans (Pettay et al 2005, Appendix S1).…”

Kinship and morphological similarity in the skeletal remains of individuals with known genealogical data (Bohemia, 19th to 20th centuries): A new methodological approach

“…Based on our knowledge of heritability and the conditions of its calculation, it is our opinion that the calculation of heritability in NM osteological traits in historical populations is highly controversial. The reasons are as follows: Heritability is mainly found in metric traits, both in humans (Sjøvold, , ; Relethford, ; Doi, ; Carson, ; Martínez‐Abadías et al, ; Dudzik & Kolatorowicz, ; Gavrus‐Ion et al, ) and in animal models (Formoso‐Rafferty et al, ; Stojanowski et al, ). The primary source of knowledge regarding trait heritability is the study of monozygotic or dizygotic twins (Snustad & Simmons, ; Biggerstaff, ; Townsend et al, ). However, this approach has significant limitations as it applies to the study of past populations.…”

“…Osteological samples with preserved documentation are rare on a global scale (Carson, ; Ricaut et al, ; Gavrus‐Ion et al, ). These samples are mostly found in family tombs (Velemínský & Dobisíková, ; Drozdová, ), church crypts (Berry, ; Molleson et al, ), or documented cemeteries (Lane ; Kelley, ; Gemmerich‐Pfister, ).…”

Sex‐specific additive genetic variances and correlations for fitness in a song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) population subject to natural immigration and inbreeding

“…) and Austrian humans (Gavrus‐Ion et al. ); yet zero in males but more substantial in females in red‐billed gulls ( Larus novaehollandiae , Teplitsky et al. ) and preindustrial Finnish humans (Pettay et al.…”

“…In contrast, V A was estimated to be zero or very small in both sexes in great tits (Parus Table 3. Wheelwright et al 2014); zero in females but more substantial in males in red deer (Cervus elaphus, Kruuk et al 2000, but see Foerster et al 2007) and Austrian humans (Gavrus-Ion et al 2017); yet zero in males but more substantial in females in red-billed gulls (Larus novaehollandiae, Teplitsky et al 2009) and preindustrial Finnish humans (Pettay et al 2005, Appendix S1). Meanwhile, the posterior 95%CI for the cross-sex r A for fitness in song sparrows excluded the substantial negative values previously estimated in wild populations (Foerster et al 2007;Brommer et al 2007;McFarlane et al 2014; Appendix S1), with relatively little posterior density surrounding the small or slightly negative values estimated in laboratory populations (Chippindale et al 2001;Delcourt et al 2009;Innocenti and Morrow 2010;Collet et al 2016).…”