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Differentiation measures for conservation genetics
Lou Jost1, Frederick Archer2, Sarah Flanagan3
1Fundacion EcoMinga Baños Ecuador.
Evolutionary Applications
|July 21, 2018
Summary
Fixation measures like FST quantify genetic nearness to fixation, while allelic differentiation measures like Jost's D assess genetic diversity between populations. Misinterpreting fixation measures for conservation can be misleading.
Area of Science:
- Population genetics
- Conservation genetics
- Evolutionary biology
Background:
- Two main classes of population structure measures exist: fixation measures (e.g., FST) and allelic differentiation measures (e.g., Jost's D).
- These measures quantify distinct, complementary aspects of population structure.
- Fixation measures are often misapplied in conservation contexts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare fixation measures and allelic differentiation measures.
- To clarify their distinct roles in population genetics and conservation.
- To correct misinterpretations of fixation measures in conservation applications.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical comparison of fixation and allelic differentiation measures.
- Analysis of the finite island model to illustrate measure behavior.
- Examination of empirical aspects relevant to conservation.
Main Results:
- Fixation measures indicate nearness to genetic fixation, while allelic differentiation measures quantify relative genetic diversity between demes.
- The absolute number of migrants influences nearness to fixation, not allelic differentiation, in low mutation rate models.
- Jost's D and related factors predict genetic divergence at equilibrium.
Conclusions:
- Allelic differentiation measures are crucial for conservation decisions requiring assessment of genetic composition differences between demes.
- Fixation measures should not be used as proxies for allelic differentiation in conservation.
- Direct measurement of allelic differentiation at relevant loci is recommended for accurate conservation assessments.
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