Showing papers by "Aurélie Coulon published in 2009"
TL;DR: The statistical toolbox available to analyse population genetic data in a spatially explicit framework is reviewed, highlighting not only the potential of various approaches but also methodological pitfalls.
Abstract: The joint analysis of spatial and genetic data is rapidly becoming the norm in population genetics. More and more studies explicitly describe and quantify the spatial organization of genetic variation and try to relate it to underlying ecological processes. As it has become increasingly difficult to keep abreast with the latest methodological developments, we review the statistical toolbox available to analyse population genetic data in a spatially explicit framework. We mostly focus on statistical concepts but also discuss practical aspects of the analytical methods, highlighting not only the potential of various approaches but also methodological pitfalls.
363 citations
TL;DR: Four major challenges for future landscape genetic research that were identified during an international landscape genetics workshop are outlined, which will greatly improve landscape genetic applications, and positively contribute to the future growth of this promising field.
Abstract: Landscape genetics is an emerging interdisciplinary field that combines methods and concepts from population genetics, landscape ecology, and spatial statistics. The interest in landscape genetics is steadily increasing, and the field is evolving rapidly. We here outline four major challenges for future landscape genetic research that were identified during an international landscape genetics workshop. These challenges include (1) the identification of appropriate spatial and temporal scales; (2) current analytical limitations; (3) the expansion of the current focus in landscape genetics; and (4) interdisciplinary communication and education. Addressing these research challenges will greatly improve landscape genetic applications, and positively contribute to the future growth of this promising field.
210 citations
TL;DR: The Tree Swallow can be characterized as a species with both continent-wide genetic panmixia and slight differentiation at one edge of its breeding distribution, which has implications for understanding the underlying basis of geographic variation in this species' life history and other phenotypic traits.
Abstract: . Understanding how genetic variation in the Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) is geographically structured is informative because this broadly distributed North American bird is increasingly used as a model for studies of mating systems, life-history traits, and physiology. We explored patterns of phylogeographic differentiation across the Tree Swallow's breeding range by using nine microsatellite loci and a mitochondrial DNA sequence marker. Contrary to this species' high population-level variation in life-history traits and other ecologically important characteristics, we found no genetic structuring across the majority of its distribution, spanning Tennessee, New York, and Alaska, but we found that birds from California form a distinct yet subtly differentiated genetic cluster. The Tree Swallow can be characterized as a species with both continent-wide genetic panmixia and slight differentiation at one edge of its breeding distribution. This pattern of genetic variation has implications for u...
18 citations