What is Landscape Genetics?
Landscape genetics is the study of the influence of the landscape or environmental features on the genetic diversity of populations. Landscape genetics offers an important new tool to aid researchers in better understanding salmonids' genetic connectivity and to further help conserve several endangered and threatened species.
What is Landscape Genomics?
Landscape geonomics is landscape genetics with many markers often in adaptive genes and with samples of individuals across environmental gradients to study both neutral and adaptive patterns and processes (e.g., infer adaptive capacity, adaptive differentiation and gene flow).
What does landscape genetics/genomics have to offer vulnerability assessments?
Landscape genomics has tremendous power to greatly inform vulnerability assessments (VAs) through increased understanding of the impact of environment (e.g., climate and habitat) on genetic diversity. Currently, it is not well understood how much environmental factors directly affect genetic connectivity (genetic exchange between populations) and local adaptation (e.g., increased survival in response to local climate conditions). Together, these fundamental genetic processes act together to ensure that salmonids can adapt to future environmental change and fluctuations in population numbers. Overall, higher levels of genetic diversity equate to higher viability and less vulnerability in the face of impending climate and habitat change.
