title: Comment on "Population size does not influence mitochondrial genetic diversity in animals".
abstract: Bazin et al. (Reports, 28 April, 2006, p. 570) found no relationship between mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) diversity and population size when comparing across large groups of animals. We show empirically that species with smaller populations, as represented by eutherian mammals, exhibit a positive correlation between mtDNA and allozyme variation, suggesting that mtDNA diversity may correlate with population size in these animals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, Box 103610, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA. mulligan@anthro.ufl.edu
authors.forename: Connie J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Mulligan
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kitchen
authors.forename: Michael M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Miyamoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000235:genetics; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008322:Mammals / Q000235:genetics*; D011156:Population Density
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D007527:Isoenzymes