scholarly journals There Is No ‘Rule of Thumb’: Genomic Filter Settings for a Small Plant Population to Obtain Unbiased Gene Flow Estimates

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison G. Nazareno ◽  
L. Lacey Knowles
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Forest Fragmentation ◽  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Spatial Genetic Structure ◽  
Genomic Data ◽  
Snp Markers ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Temporal Shift ◽  
Small Plant ◽  
Rule Of Thumb

The application of high-density polymorphic single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) markers derived from high-throughput sequencing methods has heralded plenty of biological questions about the linkages of processes operating at micro- and macroevolutionary scales. However, the effects of SNP filtering practices on population genetic inference have received much less attention. By performing sensitivity analyses, we empirically investigated how decisions about the percentage of missing data (MD) and the minor allele frequency (MAF) set in bioinformatic processing of genomic data affect direct (i.e., parentage analysis) and indirect (i.e., fine-scale spatial genetic structure – SGS) gene flow estimates. We focus specifically on these manifestations in small plant populations, and particularly, in the rare tropical plant species Dinizia jueirana-facao, where assumptions implicit to analytical procedures for accurate estimates of gene flow may not hold. Avoiding biases in dispersal estimates are essential given this species is facing extinction risks due to habitat loss, and so we also investigate the effects of forest fragmentation on the accuracy of dispersal estimates under different filtering criteria by testing for recent decrease in the scale of gene flow. Our sensitivity analyses demonstrate that gene flow estimates are robust to different setting of MAF (0.05–0.35) and MD (0–20%). Comparing the direct and indirect estimates of dispersal, we find that contemporary estimates of gene dispersal distance (σrt = 41.8 m) was ∼ fourfold smaller than the historical estimates, supporting the hypothesis of a temporal shift in the scale of gene flow in D. jueirana-facao, which is consistent with predictions based on recent, dramatic forest fragmentation process. While we identified settings for filtering genomic data to avoid biases in gene flow estimates, we stress that there is no ‘rule of thumb’ for bioinformatic filtering and that relying on default program settings is not advisable. Instead, we suggest that the approach implemented here be applied independently in each separate empirical study to confirm appropriate settings to obtain unbiased population genetics estimates.

scholarly journals Spatial population genomics of a recent mosquito invasion

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas L Schmidt ◽  
T. Swan ◽  
Jessica Chung ◽  
Stephan Karl ◽  
Samuel Demok ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Population Genomics ◽  
Isolation By Distance ◽  
Spatial Genetic Structure ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Discrete Events ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Population Genomic ◽  
Asian Tiger ◽  
Study Designs

AbstractPopulation genomic approaches can characterise dispersal across a single generation through to many generations in the past, bridging the gap between individual movement and intergenerational gene flow. These approaches are particularly useful when investigating dispersal in recently altered systems, where they provide a way of inferring long-distance dispersal between newly established populations and their interactions with existing populations. Human-mediated biological invasions represent such altered systems which can be investigated with appropriate study designs and analyses. Here we apply temporally-restricted sampling and a range of population genomic approaches to investigate dispersal in a 2004 invasion of Aedes albopictus (the Asian tiger mosquito) in the Torres Strait Islands (TSI) of Australia. We sampled mosquitoes from 13 TSI villages simultaneously and genotyped 373 mosquitoes at genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): 331 from the TSI, 36 from Papua New Guinea (PNG), and 4 incursive mosquitoes detected in uninvaded regions. Within villages, spatial genetic structure varied substantially but overall displayed isolation by distance and a neighbourhood size of 232–577. Close kin dyads revealed recent movement between islands 31–203 km apart, and deep learning inferences showed incursive Ae. albopictus had travelled to uninvaded regions from both adjacent and non-adjacent islands. Private alleles and a coancestry matrix indicated direct gene flow from PNG into nearby islands. Outlier analyses also detected four linked alleles introgressed from PNG, with the alleles surrounding 12 resistance-associated cytochrome P450 genes. By treating dispersal as both an intergenerational process and a set of discrete events, we describe a highly interconnected invasive system.

scholarly journals Investigation of Genetic Relationships within Miscanthus using SNP Markers Identified using SLAF-Seq

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
ZHIYONG Chen ◽  
Yancen He ◽  
Yasir Iqbal ◽  
Yanlan Shi ◽  
Hongmei Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput ◽  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Genetic Relationships ◽  
Female Parent ◽  
Snp Markers ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Single Nucleotide ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Sequencing Method ◽  
Specific Locus

Abstract Background: Miscanthus, which is a leading dedicated-energy grass in Europe and in parts of Asia, is expected to play a key role in the development of the future bioeconomy. However, due to its complex genetic background, it is difficult to investigate phylogenetic relationships and the evolution of gene function in this genus. Here, we investigated 50 Miscanthus germplasms: 1 female parent (M. lutarioriparius), 30 candidate male parents (M. lutarioriparius, M. sinensis, and M. sacchariflorus), and 19 offspring. We used high-throughput Specific-Locus Amplified Fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq) to identify informative single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in all germplasms.Results: We identified 800,081 SLAF tags, of which 160,368 were polymorphic. Each tag was 264–364 bp long. The obtained SNPs were used to investigate genetic relationships within Miscanthus. We constructed a phylogenetic tree of the 50 germplasms using the obtained SNPs, and found that the germplasms fell into two clades: one clade of M. sinensis only and one clade that included the offspring, M. lutarioriparius, and M. sacchariflorus. Genetic cluster analysis indicated that M. lutarioriparius germplasm C3 was the most likely male parent of the offspring.Conclusions: As a high-throughput sequencing method, SLAF-seq can be used to identify informative SNPs in Miscanthus germplasms and to rapidly characterize genetic relationships within this genus. Our results will support the development of breeding programs utilizing Miscanthus cultivars with elite biomass- or fiber-production potential.

scholarly journals Level of Inbreeding in Norik of Muran Horse: Pedigree vs. Genomic Data

2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (6) ◽  
pp. 1457-1463 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radovan Kasarda ◽  
Nina Moravčíková ◽  
Ondrej Kadlečík ◽  
Anna Trakovická ◽  
Marko Halo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Quality Control ◽  
Genomic Analysis ◽  
Genomic Data ◽  
Reference Population ◽  
Pedigree Analysis ◽  
Snp Markers ◽  
Runs Of Homozygosity ◽  
Current Generation ◽  
Genomic Inbreeding

The objective of this study was to analyse the level of pedigree and genomic inbreeding in a herd of the Norik of Muran horses. The pedigree file included 1374 animals (603 stallions and 771 mares), while the reference population consisted of animals that were genotyped by using 70k SNP platform (n = 25). The trend of pedigree inbreeding was expressed as the probability that an animal has two identical alleles by descent according to classical formulas. The trend of genomic inbreeding was derived from the distribution of runs of homozygosity (ROHs) with various length in the genome based on the assumption that these regions reflect the autozygosity originated from past generations of ancestors. A maximum of 19 generations was found in pedigree file. As expected, the highest level of pedigree completeness was found in first five generations. Subsequent quality control of genomic data resulted in totally 54432 SNP markers covering 2.242 Mb of the autosomal genome. The pedigree analysis showed that in current generation can be expected the pedigree inbreeding at level 0.23% (ΔFPEDi = 0.19 ± 1.17%). Comparable results was obtained also by the genomic analysis, when the inbreeding in current generation reached level 0.11%. Thus, in term of genetic diversity both analyses reflected sufficient level of variability across analysed population of Norik of Muran horses.

scholarly journals Low‐coverage genomic data resolve the population divergence and gene flow history of an Australian rain forest fig wasp

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (19) ◽  
pp. 3649-3666
Author(s):  
Lisa Cooper ◽  
Lynsey Bunnefeld ◽  
Jack Hearn ◽  
James M. Cook ◽  
Konrad Lohse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Rain Forest ◽  
Genomic Data ◽  
Population Divergence ◽  
Fig Wasp ◽  
History Of ◽  
Low Coverage

Staying close: short local dispersal distances on a managed forest of two Patagonian Nothofagus species

2020 ◽  
Vol 93 (5) ◽  
pp. 652-661 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgina Sola ◽  
Verónica El Mujtar ◽  
Leonardo Gallo ◽  
Giovanni G Vendramin ◽  
Paula Marchelli
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Spatial Genetic Structure ◽  
Pollen Dispersal ◽  
Dispersal Distance ◽  
Restricted Gene Flow ◽  
Fine Scale ◽  
Gene Dispersal ◽  
Mature Trees ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Understanding the impact of management on the dispersal potential of forest tree species is pivotal in the context of global change, given the implications of gene flow on species evolution. We aimed to determine the effect of logging on gene flow distances in two Nothofagus species from temperate Patagonian forests having high ecological relevance and wood quality. Therefore, a total of 778 individuals (mature trees and saplings) of Nothofagus alpina and N. obliqua, from a single plot managed 20 years ago (2.85 hectares), were mapped and genotyped at polymorphic nuclear microsatellite loci. Historical estimates of gene dispersal distance (based on fine-scale spatial genetic structure) and contemporary estimates of seed and pollen dispersal (based on spatially explicit mating models) were obtained. The results indicated restricted gene flow (gene distance ≤ 45 m, both pollen and seed), no selfing and significant seed and pollen immigration from trees located outside the studied plot but in the close surrounding area. The size of trees (diameter at breast height and height) was significantly associated with female and/or male fertility. The significant fine-scale spatial genetic structure was consistent with the restricted seed and pollen dispersal. Moreover, both estimates of gene dispersal (historical and contemporary) gave congruent results. This suggests that the recent history of logging within the study area has not significantly influenced on patterns of gene flow, which can be explained by the silviculture applied to the stand. The residual tree density maintained species composition, and the homogeneous spatial distribution of trees allowed the maintenance of gene dispersal. The short dispersal distance estimated for these two species has several implications both for understanding the evolution of the species and for defining management, conservation and restoration actions. Future replication of this study in other Nothofagus Patagonian forests would be helpful to validate our conclusions.

scholarly journals Landscape genetics and the spatial distribution of chronic wasting disease

2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 130-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie A Blanchong ◽  
Michael D Samuel ◽  
Kim T Scribner ◽  
Byron V Weckworth ◽  
Julia A Langenberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Genetic Differentiation ◽  
Landscape Genetics ◽  
Chronic Wasting Disease ◽  
Spatial Genetic Structure ◽  
Core Area ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Wasting Disease ◽  
Proactive Management ◽  
Populations At Risk

Predicting the spread of wildlife disease is critical for identifying populations at risk, targeting surveillance and designing proactive management programmes. We used a landscape genetics approach to identify landscape features that influenced gene flow and the distribution of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in Wisconsin white-tailed deer. CWD prevalence was negatively correlated with genetic differentiation of study area deer from deer in the area of disease origin (core-area). Genetic differentiation was greatest, and CWD prevalence lowest, in areas separated from the core-area by the Wisconsin River, indicating that this river reduced deer gene flow and probably disease spread. Features of the landscape that influence host dispersal and spatial patterns of disease can be identified based on host spatial genetic structure. Landscape genetics may be used to predict high-risk populations based on their genetic connection to infected populations and to target disease surveillance, control and preventative activities.

scholarly journals Isolation by resistance across a complex coral reef seascape

2015 ◽  
Vol 282 (1812) ◽  
pp. 20151217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke Thomas ◽  
W. Jason Kennington ◽  
Michael Stat ◽  
Shaun P. Wilkinson ◽  
Johnathan T. Kool ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Flow ◽  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Genetic Divergence ◽  
Larval Dispersal ◽  
Population Genetic ◽  
Spatial Genetic Structure ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Genetic Data ◽  
Genetic Structure Of Populations ◽  
Seascape Genetics

A detailed understanding of the genetic structure of populations and an accurate interpretation of processes driving contemporary patterns of gene flow are fundamental to successful spatial conservation management. The field of seascape genetics seeks to incorporate environmental variables and processes into analyses of population genetic data to improve our understanding of forces driving genetic divergence in the marine environment. Information about barriers to gene flow (such as ocean currents) is used to define a resistance surface to predict the spatial genetic structure of populations and explain deviations from the widely applied isolation-by-distance model. The majority of seascape approaches to date have been applied to linear coastal systems or at large spatial scales (more than 250 km), with very few applied to complex systems at regional spatial scales (less than 100 km). Here, we apply a seascape genetics approach to a peripheral population of the broadcast-spawning coral Acropora spicifera across the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, a high-latitude complex coral reef system off the central coast of Western Australia. We coupled population genetic data from a panel of microsatellite DNA markers with a biophysical dispersal model to test whether oceanographic processes could explain patterns of genetic divergence. We identified significant variation in allele frequencies over distances of less than 10 km, with significant differentiation occurring between adjacent sites but not between the most geographically distant ones. Recruitment probabilities between sites based on simulated larval dispersal were projected into a measure of resistance to connectivity that was significantly correlated with patterns of genetic divergence, demonstrating that patterns of spatial genetic structure are a function of restrictions to gene flow imposed by oceanographic currents. This study advances our understanding of the role of larval dispersal on the fine-scale genetic structure of coral populations across a complex island system and applies a methodological framework that can be tailored to suit a variety of marine organisms with a range of life-history characteristics.

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