Genetic networks in ecology: A guide to population, relatedness, and pedigree networks and their applications in conservation biology. (March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jones, Teri B.; Manseau, Micheline
• Is Part Of: Biological conservation. Volume 267(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03
• Subjects: Genetic network -- Population genetics -- Graph theory -- Relatedness -- Gene flow -- Dispersal; Conservation of natural resources -- Periodicals; Nature conservation -- Periodicals; Ecology -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 333.9516
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109466
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0006-3207

Abstract

Abstract: Network analysis is a highly flexible statistical framework with a diversity of uses across both ecology and other fields of study. Recent developments in ecological-based network methods have created active research interest in areas such as animal behaviour, community ecology, and landscape connectivity. With the increasing availability of genetic data from wild populations, network analysis has become a viable and important method for the study of both between and within population genetics. However, to date there is a lack of cohesion in the methodology and terminology used in genetic networks, making it difficult for researchers to undertake network analysis or follow field-specific best practices. Here, we conducted a literature review of studies that use genetic-based networks to describe and analyse population structure, genetic connectivity, dispersal, and to understand individual level of genetic relatedness. We categorise studies as population-level networks and individual-based genetic networks, based on their node definition, and discuss the commonalities and differences between these approaches. Additionally, we present an overview of the current methods and software available for the construction and analysis of genetic networks. Lastly, we discuss how genetic networks can effectively contribute to the field of conservation biology, with particular focus on defining population structure/units, understanding genetic connectivity, dispersal, and detecting source/sink dynamics, as well as addressing how genetic networks can aid studies of individual or familial fitness and understanding population inbreeding and bottlenecks. Highlights: Network analysis is a flexible, scalable, and versatile method increasingly employed in ecology. Availability of genetic data has made network analysis a viable and powerful tool. We provide a guide to researchers for best-practices and current methods in genetic network analysis. We highlight questions of conservation relevance that can benefit from genetic network analysis.