1. ¹School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
2. ²USDA Forest Service – Rocky Mt. Research Station, Moscow, ID, USA
3. ³Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
4. ⁴Department of Geography, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
5. ⁵Department of Rangeland Ecology and Management, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA

Correspondence: Dr LP Waits, Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, University of Idaho, PO Box 441136, Moscow, ID 88344-1136, USA. E-mail: lwaits@uidaho.edu

Received 13 April 2006; Revised 20 September 2006; Accepted 22 September 2006; Published online 1 November 2006.

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 that landscape variables play in shaping genetic diversity and population structure. While interest in this research area is growing rapidly, our ability to fully utilize landscape data, test explicit hypotheses and truly integrate these diverse disciplines has lagged behind. Part of the current challenge in the development of the field of landscape genetics is bridging the communication and knowledge gap between these highly specific and technical disciplines. The goal of this review is to help bridge this gap by exposing geneticists to terminology, sampling methods and analysis techniques widely used in landscape ecology and spatial statistics but rarely addressed in the genetics literature. We offer a definition for the term 'landscape genetics', provide an overview of the landscape genetics literature, give guidelines for appropriate sampling design and useful analysis techniques, and discuss future directions in the field. We hope, this review will stimulate increased dialog and enhance interdisciplinary collaborations advancing this exciting new field.