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Assessing population structure: F(ST) and related measures
Patrick G Meirmans1, Philip W Hedrick
1Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, PO Box 94248, 1090GE, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. p.g.meirmans@uva.nl
Molecular Ecology Resources
|March 25, 2011
Summary
Genetic population structure is commonly measured using F(ST), but new statistics F'(ST) and D offer improved interpretation. F'(ST) is recommended for studying genetic drift and migration impacts.
Area of Science:
- Population genetics
- Evolutionary biology
- Molecular ecology
Background:
- F(ST) is a widely used metric for population structure.
- F(ST) has limitations due to its dependency on within-population diversity, complicating comparisons.
- This has led to the development of alternative statistics: F'(ST) and D.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the relationships, estimation, and properties of F(ST), F'(ST), and D.
- To introduce a new unbiased estimator for F'(ST) based on G(ST), termed G''(ST).
- To provide recommendations for the use of these population structure statistics.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of F(ST), F'(ST), and D statistics.
- Review of existing literature and estimation methods.
- Illustration using a dataset of estimates from 84 species.
Main Results:
- F'(ST) standardizes F(ST) by maximum possible value, while D uses allele counts.
- Unbiased estimators exist for F(ST), F'(ST), and D.
- A novel unbiased F'(ST) estimator, G''(ST), was developed.
Conclusions:
- All three statistics (F(ST), F'(ST), D) have advantages and disadvantages.
- Continued use of F(ST) alongside F'(ST) or D is recommended.
- F'(ST) is often the preferred choice for inferring demographic influences like drift and migration on population structure.
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