Abstract

Landscape genetics has emerged as a new research area that integrates population genetics, landscape ecology and spatial statistics. Researchers in this field can combine the high resolution of genetic markers with spatial data and a variety of statistical methods to evaluate the role of landscape variables in shaping genetic diversity and population structure. The two key steps of landscape genetics are the spatial detection and location of genetic discontinuities between populations and the correlation of these discontinuities with landscape and environmental features. Genotypic data from 16 populations of Petaurus breviceps and nine polymorphic loci were used to investigate the spatial distribution of these populations and correlate the obtained spatial structure with environmental and landscape features. The result showed that gene flow was restricted between some of these populations due to habitat clearance and fragmentation. The overall result suggests maintaining the size of patches and establishing corridors between populations need to be consider in management and conservation of species