The spatial structure of the gene pool of a viviparous population of Poa alpina ‐ environmental controls and spatial constraints

Bjømstad, O. N., Iversen, A. & Hansen, M. 1995. The spatial structure of the gene pool of a viviparous population of Poa alpina— environmental controls and spatial constraints. — Nord. J. Bot. 15: 347–354. Copenhagen. ISSN 0107–055X. Because both the genetic make‐up and the environmental conditions of a population are spatially autocorrelated, it is difficult to infer processes of selection or drift for population genetic mappings. We propose a methodology based on partial Mantel techniques and partial autocorrelation techniques to separate the action of these processes. The method is applied to data on Poa alpina to indicate that isolation‐by‐distance (drift) is the main process inducing positive autocorrelation at the scale of diaspore dispersal (< 100m). The pattern at larger distances is more consistent with selection.