Fluctuating Asymmetry: A Technique for Measuring Developmental Stress Caused by Inbreeding

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Abstract
Fluctuating asymmetry has sometimes been employed to indicate disruption of developmental homeostasis. Such disruption is thought to be a result of increased developmental stress. In this study we examine the relationship between fluctuating asymmetry and inbreeding level in two differing breeding systems: the marine harpacticoid copepod Tisbe holothuriae, a typically outbreeding diploid, and the common honeybee Apis mellifera, which is haplo-diploid. Inbreeding has previously been shown to constitute a developmental stress in populations of T. holothuriae, but the same is yet to be conclusively shown in A. mellifera. T. holothuriae showed an increase in the level of fluctuating asymmetry with increased levels of inbreeding. No difference in the level of asymmetry was observed for A. mellifera when outbred lines were compared with inbred lines. It is concluded that fluctuating asymmetry provides a useful technique for the measurement of developmental stress caused by inbreeding.