Spatial-genetic structure in the eastern chipmunk, Tamias striatus

TitleSpatial-genetic structure in the eastern chipmunk, Tamias striatus
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication1992
AuthorsWhite MM, Svendsen GE
JournalJournal of Mammalogy
Volume73
Pagination619-624
KeywordsVERTEBRATES
Abstract

Spatial autocorrelation is used to identify the pattern of allozyme variation in populations of the eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus). A nonrandom pattern of autocorrelation was detected when distances several hundred times the distance across an average home range were considered. A population sufficiently large to survey demographics and the mating system (across several dozen home ranges) was deemed too small for genetic studies. The size of the genetic neighborhood of the chipmunk was estimated from a correlogram. These results are interpreted to mean that it is possible to identify the size of the genetic neighbohood by use of spatial autocorrelation and that it is an appropriate preliminary analysis for identifying the limits of dispersal and gene flow.