 Effective population size

Effective population size (Ne) is a concept used in population genetics to quantify the number of individuals in a population that effectively contribute to the next generation's gene pool. It is often smaller than the actual population size (N) due to various factors, such as unequal sex ratios, variation in reproductive success, and fluctuating population sizes over time. Ne is important for understanding the genetic diversity and long-term viability of a population.