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Spatial variation of anthropometric traits in Ireland
K E North1, M H Crawford, J H Relethford
1Department of Anthropology, University of Kansas, Lawrence 66045, USA.
Human Biology
|October 8, 1999
Summary
Geographic variations in Irish males
Area of Science:
- Human genetics
- Population genetics
- Anthropometry
Background:
- Understanding the interplay between geography and genetic variation is crucial for population studies.
- Previous models, such as isolation by distance, predict simple spatial patterns in human traits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate spatial patterns of anthropometric variation in Irish males.
- To determine if these patterns align with the isolation by distance model or suggest other underlying factors.
Main Methods:
- Spatial autocorrelation analysis was applied to anthropometric traits of adult males across various towns in Ireland.
- Correlograms and Moran's I statistics were used to detect significant spatial patterning.
Main Results:
- Significant spatial patterning was observed in 14 anthropometric traits and 2 principal component factor scores.
- Four distinct spatial patterns were identified: clinical patterns, long-distance differentiation, distance distinction, and regional patchiness.
Conclusions:
- Anthropometric variation in Ireland is not solely explained by the isolation by distance model.
- Multiple historical migration events have shaped the genetic landscape and anthropometric patterns observed in the Irish population.
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