DOI: 10.5061/dryad.mp71t50
title: Data from: Assessing changes in functional connectivity in a desert bighorn sheep metapopulation after two generations

description: Determining how species move across complex and fragmented landscapes and
 interact with human-made barriers is a major research focus in
 conservation. Studies estimating functional connectivity from movement,
 dispersal, or gene flow usually rely on a single study period, and rarely
 consider variation over time. We contrasted genetic structure and gene
 flow across barriers for a metapopulation of desert bighorn sheep (Ovis
 canadensis nelsoni) using genotypes collected 2000–2003 and 2013–2015.
 Based on the recently observed but unexpected spread of a respiratory
 pathogen across an interstate highway previously identified as a barrier
 to gene flow, we hypothesized that bighorn sheep changed how they
 interacted with that barrier, and that shifts in metapopulation structure
 influenced gene flow, genetic diversity, and connectivity. Population
 assignment tests, genetic structure, and genetic recapture demonstrated
 that bighorn sheep crossed the interstate highway in at least one location
 in 2013-2015, sharply reducing genetic structure between two populations,
 but supported conclusions of an earlier study that such crossings were
 very infrequent or unknown in 2000-2003. A recently expanded population
 established new links and caused decreases in genetic structure among
 multiple populations. Genetic diversity showed only slight increases in
 populations linked by new connections. Genetic structure and assignments
 revealed other previously undetected changes in movements and
 distribution, but much was consistent. Thus, we observed changes in both
 structural and functional connectivity over just two generations, but only
 in specific locations. Movement patterns of species should be revisited
 periodically to enable informed management, particularly in dynamic and
 fragmented systems.
description: Bighorn genotypes
 2000-2003This file is in GENEPOP
 format, which is easily converted to a variety of formats. It contains
 individual genotypes from desert bighorn sheep samples collected from
 2000-2003 (duplicates from the same individuals were removed), and
 includes all 16 microsatellite loci. Note that the 3rd locus- BL4- was
 removed for a subset of the analyses in the paper.BighornGenotypes2000-2003_gpBighorn genotypes 2013-2015This file is in GENEPOP format, which is easily converted to a variety of formats. It contains individual genotypes from desert bighorn sheep samples collected from 2013-2015 (duplicates from the same individuals were removed), and includes all 16 microsatellite loci. Note that the 3rd locus- BL4- was removed for a subset of the analyses in the paper.BighornGenotypes2013-2015_gpSamplingLocations_BothTimePeriods_ArcGISshapefileThis is an ArcGIS shapefile containing polygons describing the sampling locations (populations of desert bighorn sheep) at both time periods. Two letter codes and population names are provided and match codes and names used in genetic data and the accompanying manuscript. For analyses in this manuscript, sample locations were not considered below the population level. File includes projection information and all subfiles are contained in a windows zip file that would need to be extracted for use in ArcMap. Created in ArcMap version 10.2.2.