Sensitivity of migratory connectivity estimates to spatial sampling design.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The use of statistical methods to quantify the strength of migratory connectivity is commonplace. However, little attention has been given to their sensitivity to spatial sampling designs and scales of inference.

Methods

We examine sources of bias and imprecision in the most widely used methodology, Mantel correlations, under a range of plausible sampling regimes using simulated migratory populations.

Results

As Mantel correlations depend fundamentally on the spatial scale and configuration of sampling, unbiased inferences about population-scale connectivity can only be made under certain sampling regimes. Within a contiguous population, samples drawn from smaller spatial subsets of the range generate lower connectivity metrics than samples drawn from the r

SUBMITTER: Vickers SH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8019184 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature