Expanding Biogeographic Horizons with Genetic Approaches

Abstract

The last decade has seen tremendous increases in the variety and cost-efficiency of markers available to investigate genetic questions. Molecular markers have been used in a number of biogeographic studies; however, most of this work has been done by scholars in fields other than geography, despite the inherently spatial nature of questions many authors have addressed. This article calls for greater contribution by geographers to this body of work. We begin with a primer that reviews several of the most commonly used molecular markers available today. Next, we illustrate the use of those markers with biogeographic studies in two areas that have a long-standing tradition within geography: paleoenvironmental reconstruction and human-biota interactions. Finally, we identify areas where genetic approaches can greatly expand our biogeographic horizons, including collaborative work with geographers in other subdisciplines, as well as with scholars in other fields.