Spatial autocorrelation of genotypes under directional selection

Abstract

The spatial distributions of genetic variation under selection-mutation equilibrium within populations that have limited dispersal are investigated. The results show that directional selection with moderate strength rapidly reduces the amount of genetic structure and spatial autocorrelations far below that predicted for selectively neutral loci. For the latter, homozygotes are spatially clustered into separate areas or patches, each consisting of several hundred homozygotes. When selection is added the patches of the deleterious homozygotes are much smaller, in the range of 25 to 50 individuals. Selection also reduces temporal correlations. Also investigated are the effects of random replacement processes, such as mutation, immigration, and long-distance migration, on spatial and temporal correlations. The detection of natural selection through spatial pattern analysis is discussed, and applied to data from populations of the morning glory, Ipomoea purpurea.