A spatial genomic approach identifies time lags and historical barriers to gene flow in a rapidly fragmenting Appalachian landscape.

摘要: The resolution offered by genomic data sets coupled with recently developed spatially informed analyses are allowing researchers to quantify population structure at increasingly fine temporal and spatial scales. However, both empirical research conservation measures have been limited questions regarding the impacts of set size, quality thresholds timescale which barriers gene flow become detectable. Here, we used restriction site associated DNA sequencing generate a 2,140 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) for copperhead snake (Agkistrodon contortrix) address recent widespread landscape modification across an ~1,000-km2 region eastern Kentucky, USA. Nonspatial population-based assignment clustering methods supported little no structure. using individual-based autocorrelation approaches found evidence genetic structuring closely follows path historically important highway experienced high traffic volumes from c. 1920 1970 before losing most newly constructed alternative route. We similar signatures more highways or surface mining activity, although time lag effect may be responsible lack any emergent patterns. Subsampling our SNP suggested that results could obtained as few 250 SNPs, range missing exhibited on patterns detected. While were not able estimate relative effects land uses precise lags, findings highlight importance factors in genetics approaches, suggest potential advantages fine-scale, quantifying subtle temporally complex landscapes.