Disease susceptibility in California sea lions

Evidence from a wide range of research has indicated that inbreeding within animal populations can lead to substantial increases in their susceptibility to pathogens. Findings are reported from a study investigating rescued California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) impacted by a variety of different pathogens. Results from the study indicated that sick animals typically exhibited a higher-than-normal level of parental relatedness. These findings suggested that mortality patterns in natural populations of wild animals may not be entirely random. Evidence also suggested that inbred individuals may sesrve as more effective reservoirs of infectious agents. Implications of these findings for the debate over the role of genetics in demography and conservation are discussed.