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MEMGENE : Spatial pattern detection in genetic distance data
Author(s) -
Galpern Paul,
PeresNeto Pedro R.,
Polfus Jean,
Manseau Micheline
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
methods in ecology and evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.425
H-Index - 105
ISSN - 2041-210X
DOI - 10.1111/2041-210x.12240
Subject(s) - biological dispersal , spatial ecology , spatial analysis , population , genetic data , gene flow , multivariate statistics , genetic structure , geography , ecology , biology , computer science , genetic variation , machine learning , remote sensing , gene , genetics , demography , sociology
Summary Landscape genetics studies using neutral markers have focused on the relationship between gene flow and landscape features. Spatial patterns in the genetic distances among individuals may reflect spatially uneven patterns of gene flow caused by landscape features that influence movement and dispersal. We present a method and software for identifying spatial neighbourhoods in genetic distance data that adopts a regression framework where the predictors are generated using Moran's eigenvectors maps ( MEM ), a multivariate technique developed for spatial ecological analyses and recommended for genetic applications. Using simulated genetic data, we show that our MEMGENE method can recover patterns reflecting the landscape features that influenced gene flow. We also apply MEMGENE to genetic data from a highly vagile ungulate population and demonstrate spatial genetic neighbourhoods aligned with a river likely to reduce, but not eliminate, gene flow. We developed the MEMGENE package for R in order to detect and visualize relatively weak or cryptic spatial genetic patterns and aid researchers in generating hypotheses about the ecological processes that may underlie these patterns. MEMGENE provides a flexible set of R functions that can be used to modify the analysis. Detailed supplementary documentation and tutorials are provided.