RAD-analysis of the pine processionary (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) population

Beside mathematical derivations, the authors of this study compared allele frequency estimations at RAD loci in pool- and individual-based data obtained from the same population of the pine processionary moth (PPM) Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Lepidoptera: Notodontidae). DNA samples consisted of 30 adult PPM males collected in spring in the Mata Nacional de Leiria, Portugal. Two PstI-digested RAD libraries were constructed following the protocol outlined in Ogden et al (2012). The first library contained 20 individually barcoded individuals, while the second library was prepared using a single DNA pool of 30 individuals, including the same 20 individuals used for library 1. For library 2, we generated 10 technical replicates (aliquots) of the same DNA pool using 10 distinct barcodes. The two RAD libraries were sequenced on one lane of an Illumina HiSeq 2000 flowcell (101-bp paired-end reads). The authors found that allele frequency estimations were remarkably similar for the individual- and pool-based experimental designs (see the paper by Gautier et al. Mol Ecol 2013 for details).