Section: Evolutionary Biology
Topic: Ecology, Evolution, Genetics/genomics

Exploring the effects of ecological parameters on the spatial structure of genetic tree sequences

Ianni-Ravn, Mariadaria K.1, 2  ; Petr, Martin1, 3 ; Racimo, Fernando1, 3 
1 Section for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
2 Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, 60637, IL, USA
3 Lundbeck Foundation GeoGenetics Centre, Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark

10.24072/pcjournal.439 - Peer Community Journal, Volume 4 (2024), article no. e75.

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Geographic space is a fundamental dimension of evolutionary change, determining how individuals disperse and interact with each other. Consequently, space has an important influence on the structure of genealogies and the distribution of genetic variants over time. Recently, the development of highly flexible simulation tools and computational methods for genealogical inference has greatly increased the potential for incorporating space into models of population genetic variation. It is now possible to explore how spatial ecological parameters can influence the distribution of genetic variation among individuals in unprecedented detail. In this study, we explore the effects of three specific parameters (the dispersal distance, competition distance and mate choice distance)  on the spatial structure of genealogies. We carry out a series of in silico experiments using forwards-in-time simulations to determine how these parameters influence the distance between closely- and distantly-related individuals. We also assess the accuracy of the maximum likelihood estimation of the dispersal distance in a Gaussian model of dispersal from tree-sequence data,  and highlight how it is affected by realistic factors such as finite habitat size and limited data. We find overall that the scale of mate choice in particular has marked patterns on short and long terms patterns of dispersal, as well as on the positions of individuals within a habitat. Our results showcase the potential for linking phylogeography, population genetics and ecology, in order to answer fundamental questions about the nature of spatial interactions across a landscape.

Published online:
DOI: 10.24072/pcjournal.439
Type: Research article
Keywords: Ecology, phylogeography, genetics, population genetics

Ianni-Ravn, Mariadaria K. 1, 2; Petr, Martin 1, 3; Racimo, Fernando 1, 3

1 Section for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
2 Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, 60637, IL, USA
3 Lundbeck Foundation GeoGenetics Centre, Globe Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
License: CC-BY 4.0
Copyrights: The authors retain unrestricted copyrights and publishing rights 
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Ianni-Ravn, Mariadaria K.; Petr, Martin; Racimo, Fernando. Exploring the effects of ecological parameters on the spatial structure of genetic tree sequences. Peer Community Journal, Volume 4 (2024), article  no. e75. doi : 10.24072/pcjournal.439. https://peercommunityjournal.org/articles/10.24072/pcjournal.439/

PCI peer reviews and recommendation, and links to data, scripts, code and supplementary information: 10.24072/pci.evolbiol.100655

Conflict of interest of the recommender and peer reviewers:
The recommender in charge of the evaluation of the article and the reviewers declared that they have no conflict of interest (as defined in the code of conduct of PCI) with the authors or with the content of the article.

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