Visualizing Population Genetic Structure
Another aspect of the research I'm doing is a population genetics approach to Cochemiea halei, the cactus species I am studying, to determine the within population and between population genetic diversity, the landscape effects on gene flow and the overall genetic differentiation between the most widely separated populations across the range of the species. If there isn't much population genetic structure, that would mean, most likely, that the hummingbird that is probably the main pollinator of the species ( Basilinna xantusii ) has a wide range and isn't daunted by geographical barriers between islands or in the mountainous island landscape.
I've collected 96 samples of tissue from 10 populations, as shown in this map:
The methods used to analyze the genetic aspects of this species include DNA extraction, restriction site associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) and a powerful analytical software program called Structure, that produces very clear visualizations of subpopulations broken down by allele frequencies or other measures of variation.
I am hoping that the population genetics analysis of my study organism will provide crucial insight into the genetic diversity of this species across its range as well as between subpopulations. The population genetic structure informs questions of evolution, biogeography, proper maintenance of genetic health, maximizing fitness, preserving maximum diversity and many other issues. This information is crucial to management of endangered plant populations, but is often by-passed.
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