DOI: 10.5061/dryad.kd51c5bg7
title: Data from: Reduced representation sequencing reveals weak genetic differentiation between Canadian and European Larus hyperboreus (Glaucous Gull)

description: Climate change poses a significant threat to Arctic ecosystems. Evaluation
 of genetic diversity within and differentiation among populations is
 needed to effectively conserve Arctic species and ensure genetic variation
 is appropriately managed. This research examined population genetic
 structure in Larus hyperboreus (Glaucous Gull), a circumpolar Arctic
 species that is declining in parts of its range. Population genetic
 information is needed to help delineate management units, including
 information on genetic differences among related species, among subspecies
 (currently distinguished by subtle morphometric and plumage differences),
 and among colonies in North America. We conducted double-digest
 restriction site-associated DNA sequencing for 62 L. hyperboreus, 18 L.
 argentatus smithsonianus (American Herring Gull), 6 L. a. argentatus
 (European Herring Gull), and 15 L. glaucescens (Glaucous-winged Gull)
 sampled across the Canadian and European Arctic. Interspecific analyses
 using 2,145 loci were unable to distinguish members of this species
 complex. Despite the geographic distance among sampling locations,
 molecular assignments and principal coordinates analyses based on 621 loci
 uncovered only weak population genetic differentiation among sampled
 European and Canadian colonies of L. hyperboreus. As L. hyperboreus
 occupying the eastern Canadian Arctic appear to be acting as a single
 panmictic population, conservation plans that protect Arctic habitat may
 help slow or reverse population declines. Proactive conservation
 strategies will benefit both L. hyperboreus and associated coastal Arctic
 ecosystems.
description: # Data from: Reduced representation sequencing reveals weak genetic
 differentiation between Canadian and European Larus hyperboreus (Glaucous
 Gull) ## Description of the data and file structure: SNP data was obtained
 from ddRAD sequencing ## File contents: ## trial2\_sp.st STRUCTURE file
 containing 98 individuals. Species identity when sampled in the field is
 given in column 2 with 1 denoting Glaucous Gull, 2 denoting European
 Herring Gull, 3 denoting American Herring Gull, and 4 denoting
 Glaucous-winged Gull. Sampling location for each individual can be found
 in supplemental materials. ## Trial1.st STRUCTURE file containing 62
 individuals sampled in the field as Glaucous Gulls. Sampling location for
 each individual can be found in supplemental materials. ## nohybs\_baff.st
 STRUCTURE file containing 56 Glaucous Gull individuals. Through analysis,
 we came to question the species identity of some of the sampled birds in
 Trial1.st and trial2_sp.st. To create this file, any individual believed
 to be a hybrid or misidentified in the field was removed (n=3) and
 sampling locations present in Trial1.st and trial2_sp.st (Kuujjuarapik,
 Quebec; Inukjuak, Quebec; and Arctic Ocean, Alaska) were removed due to
 low sample size (n=3). Sampling location is given in column 2 with KARR_NU
 denoting Karrak Lake, Nunavut; AKPA_NU denoting Akpatok Island, Nunavut;
 BEAR_NO denoting Bjornoya, Norway; DEVI_NU denoting Devils Island,
 Nunavut; BJAR_IS denoting Bjarnarhafnarfjall, Iceland; and BAFF_NU
 denoting Baffin Island, Nunavut. ## Gulls\_R1.fastq.zip and
 Gulls\_R2.fastq.zip Zipped fastq files containing raw, paired-end sequence
 data for 192 individuals: 133 Glaucous Gull, 15 Glaucous-winged Gull, 20
 American Herring Gull, and 24 European Herring Gull. The .md5 file is not
 necessary for reproducing, analyzing, or accessing the data. Sampling
 locations can be found in supplemental materials.