Studies on selection components in natural populations using population samples of mother‐offspring combinations

Abstract

Inference in fitness in natural populations is discussed emphasizing the key role of the concept of selection components. The applicability of observational designs including different kinds of population samples of mother‐offspring combinations is reviewed and analysed. It is shown that complete information about all selection components is obtainable for one‐locus polymorphism by using mother‐offspring combinations with three or more offspring per mother in organisms where every brood has only one sire. © 1980 Mendelian Society of Lund