Adaptive potential in the face of a transmissible cancer in Tasmanian devils.

Abstract excerpt

Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) not only cause catastrophic declines in wildlife populations but also generate selective pressures that may result in rapid evolutionary responses. One such EID is devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) in the Tasmanian devil. DFTD is almost always fatal and has reduced the average lifespan of individuals by around 2 years, likely causing strong selection for traits that reduce...

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• Body Size
• Body Weight
• Genetic Predisposition to Disease
• Genetic Variation
• Inbreeding Depression