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Using IBMs to Investigate Spatially-dependent Processes in Landscape Genetics Theory
Citation:
Schumaker, N., J. Day, AND A. Brookes. Using IBMs to Investigate Spatially-dependent Processes in Landscape Genetics Theory. International Association for Landscape Ecology 2015 Annual Meeting, Portland, OR, July 05 - 10, 2015.
Impact/Purpose:
We describe new research results obtained from the use of a modern demo-genetic simulation model that can has the potential to identify limitations present in traditional genetic theory, and that can extend the fields of Landscape and conservation genetics significantly.
Description:
Much of landscape and conservation genetics theory has been derived using non-spatialmathematical models. Here, we use a mechanistic, spatially-explicit, eco-evolutionary IBM to examine the utility of this theoretical framework in landscapes with spatial structure. Our analysis explores the following fundamental questions:1. In well-connected landscapes exhibiting little genetic drift, how does isolation by distance (IBD) affect inferences of genetic structure?2. In disconnected landscapes, how does drift interact with IBD, and thus affect inferences of genetic structure?3. In poorly-connected landscapes, how effective is dispersal at homogenizing population structures resulting from both IBD and drift?4. In poorly-connected landscapes, how does dispersal ability influence genetic structure when populations are subjected to IBD, drift, and selective pressure?We use our study to examine the potential that eco-evolutionary IBMs have forcontributing to landscape and conservation genetics theory.