GEOGRAPHY OF EFFECTIVE SIZE IN RURAL POPU LATIONS FROM NORTHERN EURASIA - GEOGRAPHICAL CORRELATION BETWEEN EFFECTIVE SIZE AND HETEROZYGOSITY LEVEL OF POPULATIONS

A significant geographical correlation (r = 0.719) was found between t he logarithm of effective size (lnN(e)) and heterozygosity level (H) i n populations under the assumption of the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The area of highest positive correlation was positioned meridionally b etween the Ob and Yenisei rivers, from the Arctic coast of Taimyr Peni nsula to eastern Sayans and the southern Cis-Baikal region, i.e., in t he same region where the highest distribution density of mean N-e valu es was found. Two additional areas of high correlations were found on the northern Black Sea coast and in the lower Lena river region. Analy sis and mapping of correlation ratios eta(H/lnNe)(2) and eta(lnNe/H)(2 ) revealed that effective size substantially influenced heterozygosity level (as could be expected in the case of an intense gene drift), an d heterozygosity level influenced effective size to the same extent. T he latter relationship indicated an intense adaptation, and changes in diversity of the gene pool caused substantial demographic changes. Ho wever, this might be accounted for by direct gene migration into a pop ulation prevailing over reverse migration, i.e., mechanical population growth prevailing over natural growth.