ABSTRACT
In preceding sections we examined the ways in which placement of founders in the same geometric pattern (two parallel, horizontal lines of 10 founders each) but inset at different distances from a preserve border can bring about population genetic edge effects. But, given the same number of founders placed at the same distance from the borders, does the geometric pattern of introduction matter? For example, what happens if, instead of two lines of 10, the founders are placed in one long straight line? Or in a square? Or does it matter if instead of the two described lines placed in the center of the preserve, fi ve founders are placed in each corner? Or, what if grid spaces are inserted between and among founders instead of their being placed with closest average-density grid point spacing? Do such differences in patterns of introduction have effects on genetic diversity retention? Is there an optimal geometric pattern solution (or set of optimal solutions) for introducing founders that maximizes population genetic diversity retention? How do differing life history characteristics across species infl uence such considerations? The trials below demonstrate that, while the effects of founder geometry constitute a complex topic, situations clearly exist in which the geometry of introduction can have a signifi cant infl uence on genetic diversity retention in growing populations.
