ResDisMapper

ResDisMapper: Isolation-by-Distance-Based Resistance Mapping

ResDisMapper quantifies landscape resistance to dispersal by analyzing deviations from isolation by distance (IBD) patterns and spatially projecting IBD residuals to generate resistance maps.

Key Features:

• Isolation by Distance (IBD) Framework: Calculates resistance to dispersal by estimating IBD residuals from deviations between observed genetic distances and the general IBD trend for all sample pairs.
• Environmental Independence: Infers resistance patterns without requiring prior environmental or landscape data.
• Computational Efficiency: Performs resistance analyses with low computational demand.
• Spatial Projection of IBD Residuals: Maps positive and negative IBD residuals to depict spatial accumulation of dispersal resistance.

Scientific Applications:

• Landscape Genetics and Conservation Biology: Identifies dispersal barriers and connectivity patterns to support management of invasive species, habitat fragmentation, and conservation planning.

Methodology:

Genetic distances between sample pairs are compared to expected distances derived from the overall isolation by distance (IBD) relationship to compute IBD residuals. Residuals are spatially interpolated and projected across the study area to generate resistance maps indicating facilitated or hindered dispersal. Accuracy has been validated using simulated and empirical datasets, demonstrating high performance relative to other landscape genetic programs.