Centre for Macroevolution and Macroecology, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, ACT 0200, Australia.
Mol Ecol Resour. 2011 May;11(3):423-34. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-0998.2011.02988.x. Epub 2011 Feb 6.
Estimation of demographic history from nucleotide sequences represents an important component of many studies in molecular ecology. For example, knowledge of a population's history can allow us to test hypotheses about the impact of climatic and anthropogenic factors. In the past, demographic analysis was typically limited to relatively simple population models, such as exponential or logistic growth. More flexible approaches are now available, including skyline-plot methods that are able to reconstruct changes in population sizes through time. This technical review focuses on these skyline-plot methods. We describe some general principles relating to sampling design and data collection. We then provide an outline of the methodological framework, which is based on coalescent theory, before tracing the development of the various skyline-plot methods and describing their key features. The performance and properties of the methods are illustrated using two simulated data sets.
从核苷酸序列估计种群历史是分子生态学许多研究的重要组成部分。例如，了解种群的历史可以使我们能够检验有关气候和人为因素影响的假设。过去，人口统计分析通常仅限于相对简单的种群模型，例如指数或逻辑增长。现在可使用更灵活的方法，包括能够随时间重建种群大小变化的天际线图方法。本技术评论重点介绍了这些天际线图方法。我们描述了一些与抽样设计和数据收集有关的一般原则。然后，我们提供了基于合并理论的方法框架概述，然后追溯各种天际线图方法的发展并描述其关键特征。使用两个模拟数据集来说明方法的性能和特性。
