engleski

Population structure of the Island of Rab estimated by the analysis of cardio-respiratory traits

Physiological traits are good indicators of the microevolutionary influence on the biological structure of the population. The aim of this research was to study the population structure of the island of Rab by analysis of physiological (cardio-respiratory) traits. The sample collected in 2002 is comprised of 600 adult examinees from five island’s settlements. Cardio-respiratory traits (lung volumes – FVC, FEV1, lung flows – PEF, MEF25%, MEF 50%, MEF 75%, and arterial blood pressure – systolic, diastolic) were analyzed by multivariate biostatistical methods in order to determine the degree of heterogeneity among the populations of the island’s settlements and the pattern of their variation. Analyses showed statistically significant inter-population differences for almost all investigated cardio- respiratory traits. Physiological variability among the populations corresponds to that previously established for morphological traits of the head and body and most likely reflects genetic differences, given the fact that populations have been exposed to homogenous physical environment of the relatively small island. Our findings point to the maintained reproductive isolation between the Rab settlements and the results are in line with the geographical, historical and migrational data.

population structure; island isolate; Rab; Croatia; lung function indices; blood pressure; genetic variability

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