[Changes in correlations between commercially valuable characters of the sable Martes zibellina L. during artificial selection].

A farm population of the sable Martes zibellina L. has been selected for darker coat color during 40 years. Correlations between fitness characters and correlations of these characters with the selected character have been monitored. Correlation analysis has shown that the female fertility in the first year of reproduction is a promising predictor of how valuable the female will be for further breeding. Artificial directional selection has been shown to change the correlations that have been formed in natural populations of the sable. The relationship of this phenomenon with a decrease in the overall fitness during selection that has been observed in the sable population is discussed.