Data from: Genetic structure at three spatial scales is consistent with limited philopatry in Ricord’s Rock Iguanas (Cyclura ricordii)

Cyclura ricordii is an endemic iguana from Hispaniola Island and is
threatened on the IUCN Red List. The main threats are predation by
introduced mammals, habitat destruction, and hunting pressure. The present
study focused on two nesting sites from Pedernales Province in the
Dominican Republic. The hypothesis that natal philopatry influences
dispersal and nest site selection was tested. Monitoring and sampling took
place in 2012 and 2013. Polymorphic markers were used to evaluate whether
natal philopatry limits dispersal at multiple spatial scales. Ripley’s K
revealed that nests were significantly clustered at multiple scales, when
both nesting sites were considered and within each nesting site. This
suggests a patchy, non-random distribution of nests within nest sites.
Hierarchical AMOVA revealed that nest site aggregations did not explain a
significant portion of genetic variation within nesting sites. However, a
small but positive correlation between geographic and genetic distance was
detected using a Mantel’s test. Hence, the relationship between geographic
distance and genetic distance among hatchlings within nest sites, while
detectable, was not strong enough to have a marked effect on fine scale
genetic structure. Spatial and genetic data combined determined that the
nesting sites included nesting females from multiple locations, and the
hypothesis of ‘natal philopatry’, was not supported because females
nesting in the same cluster were no more closely related to each other
than to other females from the same nesting site. These findings imply
that nesting aggregations are more likely associated with cryptic habitat
variables contributing to optimal nesting conditions.