EcoGenetics offers a set of tools to study spatially-explicit metapopulations. It provides spatial ecologists and population geneticists with an user-friendly package of simulation and analysis tools. It is centred on a spatial interface that allows defining all kinds of landscape configurations, from real landscapes (e.g. stemming from Geographic Information Systems) to theoretical structures (e.g. island model, circles, grid). Despite its simplicity of use, EcoGenetics is both versatile and fast.

Here is a poster presenting Ecogenetics:

• Large version (7 Mb)
• Small version (4.76 Mb)

The individual-based module allows designing and running spatially-explicit individual-based simulations. Almost any life history can be modelled, by means of a user-friendly graphic interface, including sex-dependent or age-dependent behaviours and generation overlap. Simulations consist in two stages: 1) During the population-dynamics stage, individuals reproduce and disperse according to their life-history. This allows building a pedigree over all generations. 2) During the gene-dynamics stage, neutral genetic markers are allowed to propagate and mutate through the pedigree.

This module also allows one to graph the output of the simulation, to produce Fstat- and GenePop-compatible files, to conduct factorial, sensitivity analyses, as well as Approximate Bayesian Computations (ABC).

The whole module benefits from an intuitive user interface, allowing non-programmer to run advanced simulations.

Features

•  Patch topology and connectivity
•  Patch size
•  Patch extinction rate
•  Effect of inter-patch environment on dispersal

• Birth
• Survival
• Reproduction
• Dispersal
• Aging
• Death
• Density-dependent behaviour
• Sex-dependent behaviour
• Gene-dependent behaviour
• Random behaviour
• Clonal, hermaphrodite (with selfing) or sexuate reproduction
• Generation overlap

• Neutral markers
• Up to 8 loci, with up to 256 alleles each
• Markers located on autosomes, X-, Y-chromosomes or mitochondria
• KAM and stepwise mutation regime

• Graphic interface for the patch topology.
• Inter-patch environment compatible with GIS Idrisi and Biomapper format
• User-friendly interface for the definition of the life-cycle
• Batch mode for sensitivity analyses
• Batch mode for Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC)

• Text files (for easy work with statistical applications)
• Compatible with Fstat and GenePop
• Various graphics for the preliminary simulations
• F-statistics
• Pedigree

• Ecogenetics
• The user manuals for them
• Some example models