In population genetic studies, the structure of populations is an extremely important attribute for understanding the microevolutionary processes that shape their characteristics. Two decades ago, the terminology landscape genetics was proposed to refer to a discipline that integrates population genetics studies developed using molecular methods and landscape ecology, which analyzes the interactions between spatial patterns and ecological processes. The two key aspects of landscape genetics are the detection of genetic discontinuities and their correlation with landscape features and environmental conditions. In the current context where climate change is a reality and anthropogenic activities are a threat to many species’ conservation due to the disruption of gene flow, landscape genetics is an essential discipline to gather information about the genetic status of populations, especially in the Neotropics. In addition, the data collected through these studies are necessary to evaluate the existence of evolutionarily significant units, management units, or conservation units in the range of the species analyzed, which informs different management decisions. This chapter includes a brief review of the history of this discipline, the main methods currently used in landscape genetics and genomics studies, as well as examples of their application in studies on neotropical species.

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How Have Genetics and Genomics Made it Possible to Understand the Structure of Populations in the Neotropical Landscape?

  • Patricia Amavet

摘要

In population genetic studies, the structure of populations is an extremely important attribute for understanding the microevolutionary processes that shape their characteristics. Two decades ago, the terminology landscape genetics was proposed to refer to a discipline that integrates population genetics studies developed using molecular methods and landscape ecology, which analyzes the interactions between spatial patterns and ecological processes. The two key aspects of landscape genetics are the detection of genetic discontinuities and their correlation with landscape features and environmental conditions. In the current context where climate change is a reality and anthropogenic activities are a threat to many species’ conservation due to the disruption of gene flow, landscape genetics is an essential discipline to gather information about the genetic status of populations, especially in the Neotropics. In addition, the data collected through these studies are necessary to evaluate the existence of evolutionarily significant units, management units, or conservation units in the range of the species analyzed, which informs different management decisions. This chapter includes a brief review of the history of this discipline, the main methods currently used in landscape genetics and genomics studies, as well as examples of their application in studies on neotropical species.