TITLE:
Mapping the Genetic Diversity of Castanea sativa: Exploiting Spatial Analysis for Biogeography and Conservation Studies
AUTHORS:
Francesca Chiocchini, Claudia Mattioni, Paola Pollegioni, Ilaria Lusini, Maria Angela Martín, Marcello Cherubini, Marco Lauteri, Fiorella Villani
KEYWORDS:
Landscape Genetics, Microsatellites, Genetic Structure, Spatial Interpolation, Genetic Barriers
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geographic Information System,
Vol.8 No.2,
April
26,
2016
ABSTRACT: The current distribution
of forest tree species is a result of natural or human mediated historical and
contemporary processes. Knowledge of the spatial distribution of the diversity
and divergence of populations is crucial for managing and conserving genetic
resources in forest tree species. By combining tools from population genetics,
landscape ecology and spatial statistics, landscape genetics thus represents a
powerful method for evaluating the geographic patterns of genetic resources at
the population level. In this study, we explore the possibility of combining
genetic diversity data, spatial statistic tools and GIS technologies to map the
genetic divergence and diversity of 31 Castanea
sativa populations collected
in Spain, Italy, Greece, and Turkey. The IDW technique was used to interpolate
the diversity values and divergence indices as expected hetereozygosity (He),
allelic richness (Rs), private allelic richness (PRs), and membership values
(Q) of each population to different clusters. Genetic diversity maps and a
synthetic map of the spatial genetic structure of European chestnut populations
were produced. Spatial coincidences between landscape elements and
statistically significant genetic discontinuities between populations were
investigated. Evidence is provided of the significance of cartographic outputs
produced in the study and on their usefulness in managing genetic resources.