High levels of biodiversity are important for the survival of animal populations. Biodiversity is especially important for the ability of a population to adapt to changing conditions in the environment and to prevent the phenotypical expression of recessive alleles that cause genetic disease. Human activity can exert direct and indirect pressure on wild populations, causing biodiversity loss. Domesticated populations are negatively affected primarily by breeding within small populations, a good example of which is the various breeds of dogs, which cause a relatively rapid increase in inbreeding. To prevent such negative effects, it is necessary to monitor the state of biodiversity in populations and to recognize its decline in a timely manner. We can obtain information from the genetic code about the genetic diversity of populations through the analysis of genetic markers, such as microsatellites and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and various statistical tools. To maintain and, in exceptional cases, even increase the level of biodiversity in wild populations, we can implement measures that limit the effects of human activities and, in some cases, also enable an increase in the genetic pool of populations. These measures can be divided into in situ measures, which are implemented in the natural habitat where the populations live, and ex situ measures, which enable the survival and conservation of populations in controlled conditions outside their natural habitat. To prevent a decline in the biodiversity of dog populations, we have established rules defined by breeding programs, but these measures often are not sufficient in very small populations. The krast shepherd is the only indigenous Slovenian breed of dog. In this thesis, we used molecular markers to assess the level of biodiversity in this breed and compared it with some other breeds of dog and wolf populations.
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