Elucidation of Population Connectivity in Synanthropic Mesopredators: Using Genes to Define Relevant Spatial Scales for Management of Raccoons and

摘要: Raccoons (Procyon lotor) and Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana) are highly abundant, synanthropic mesocarnivores that can transmit epizootic diseases of critical importance to human livestock health such as rabies tuberculosis. Individuals both species exhibit large dispersal distances our understanding population connectivity for these is limited. Data on potential disease transmission needed each the developmentofdata-informed management, control, vaccination programs. Genetic connectivityamong populations be estimated by evaluation metrics isolation distance (IBD) signatures structure. Such influenced not onlyby geographic distanceand barriersto but also life-history characteristics in question. We investigated scale at which exhibited evidence ofconnectivity via geneflow,using samples collected from 9 sites spanning 254km across north-central, west-central, south-central, southern Indiana, USA. evaluated genetic IBD using Bayesian clustering analyses matrix correlation methods. In model, raccoons were assigned 3 clusters, whereas apparent panmixia. Spatial autocorrelation results indicated a significant positive between up 25km 4km. Interspecific differences reproductive biology, social behavior, likely causes 2 spatial partitioning broad ranges. addition, features past glaciation events may affecting present-day raccoon populations. Improved information regarding interpopulation contribute more effective management disease-control 2014 The Wildlife Society.