Maximum likelihood estimates of fitness in iteroparous species population replacement experiments using compound chromosomes

Abstract

We have developed a method of estimating fitness in competing populations of compound autosome or similar rearranged strains and wild insects. The technique is based in part on the method of maximum likelihood as developed by DuMouchel and Anderson. Simulations of maximum likelihood estimates of overall fitness (MLEOF) revealed that the method is robust. For Drosophila melanogaster the MLEOF for compound autosome strains were in the order of 0.02–0.09, and for compound;free-arm combinations they ranged from 0.10–0.14. These values are comparable to those obtained from a previously-developed successive intervals method. However, the maximum likelihood technique is much simpler to apply and should prove to be useful in estimating fitness of competing lines in insect control programs.Key words: fitness estimation, maximum likelihood, population replacement, compound chromosomes.