Review of heterozygosity visualization approaches in the context of conservation research

Abstract

The assessment of heterozygosity level is one of the key metrics in conservation biology, as it contributes to the accurate design of conservation programs for endangered species. With the development of whole-genome sequencing technologies, it is now possible to more accurately estimate heterozygosity not only at the organismal level, but also at the population and species level. Contemporary conservation studies involve the processing of large volumes of whole-genome data, leading to problems of interpretation and necessitates the study of modern visualization methods for clear and correct presentation of results. In this review, we comprehensively examine the main types of visualization of heterozygosity assessments obtained using various approaches. We delve into the theory underlying each visualization method and discuss their characteristics using examples from studies of non-model species with different conservation statuses. The review provides insight into current tools for heterozygosity assessment and subsequent visualization, as well as current trends in this field.