Evaluating the ability of Bayesian clustering methods to detect hybridization and introgression using an empirical red wolf dataset

Bayesian clustering methods have emerged as a popular tool for assessing hybridization using genetic markers. Simulation studies have shown these methods perform well under certain conditions; however, these methods have not been evaluated using empirical datasets with individuals of known ancestry. We evaluated the performance of two Bayesian clustering programs, BAPS and STRUCTURE, with genetic data from a reintroduced red wolf (Canis rufus) population in North Carolina, USA. Red wolves hybridize with coyotes (C. latrans), and a single hybridization event resulted in introgression of coyote genes into the red wolf population. A detailed pedigree has been reconstructed for the wild red wolf population that includes individuals of 50–100% red wolf ancestry, providing an ideal case study for evaluating the ability of these methods to estimate admixture. Using 17 microsatellite loci, we tested the programs using different training set compositions and varying numbers of loci. STRUCTURE wa...

贝叶斯聚类方法（Bayesian clustering methods）已成为借助遗传标记开展杂交事件评估的常用工具。模拟研究证实，此类方法在特定条件下表现优异，但目前尚未针对携带已知血统个体的实证数据集开展性能评估。本研究借助美国北卡罗来纳州一处重新引入的红狼（Canis rufus）种群的遗传数据，对BAPS与STRUCTURE两款贝叶斯聚类软件的性能表现进行了评估。红狼会与郊狼（C. latrans）发生杂交，单次杂交事件即可导致郊狼基因渐渗至红狼种群中。研究团队已为该野生红狼种群重建了详尽的谱系，其中涵盖红狼血统占比50%至100%的个体，为验证此类方法对遗传混合（admixture）比例的估算能力提供了理想的案例研究素材。本研究采用17个微卫星位点（microsatellite loci），通过设置不同的训练集组成与位点数量，对两款软件开展了测试。STRUCTURE wa...