gene<scp>GIS</scp> : Geoanalytical Tools and Arc Marine Customization for Individual‐Based Genetic Records

• Published in: Transactions in GIS
• Main Authors: Dick, Dorothy M., Walbridge, Shaun, Wright, Dawn J., Calambokidis, John, Falcone, Erin A., Steel, Debbie, Follett, Tomas, Holmberg, Jason, Baker, C. Scott
• Other Authors: Office of Naval Research
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2014
• Subjects: General Earth and Planetary Sciences; Megaptera novaeangliae
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/tgis.12090; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Ftgis.12090; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/tgis.12090

Abstract To improve understanding of population structure, ecosystem relationships and predictive models of human impact in cetaceans and other marine megafauna, we developed gene GIS , a suite of GIS tools and a customized A rc M arine data model to facilitate visual exploration and spatial analyses of individual‐based records from DNA profiles and photo‐identification records. We used the open source programming language P ython 2.7 and A rc GIS 10.1 software to create a user‐friendly, menu‐driven toolbar linked to a P ython T oolbox containing customized geoprocessing scripts. For ease of sharing and installation, we compiled the gene GIS program into an A rc GIS P ython A dd‐ I n, freely available for download from the website http://genegis.org . We used the L ord‐ C astillo et al. (2009) A rc M arine data model customization as the starting point for our work and retained nine key base A rc M arine classes. We demonstrate the utility of gene GIS using an integrated database of more than 18,000 records of humpback whales ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) in the N orth P acific collected during the S tructure of P opulations, L evels of A bundance and S tatus of H umpback W hales in the N orth P acific ( SPLASH ) program. These records represent more than 8,000 naturally marked individuals and 2,700 associated DNA profiles, including 10 biparentally inherited microsatellite loci, maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA , and genetic sex.