A novel SNP assay reveals increased genetic variability and abundance following translocations to a remnant Allegheny woodrat population

Background: Allegheny woodrats (Neotoma magister) are found in metapopulations distributed throughout the Interior Highlands and Appalachia. Historically these metapopulations persisted as relatively fluid networks, enabling gene flow between subpopulations and recolonization of formerly extirpated regions. However, over the past 45 years, Allegheny woodrat populations have experienced population declines throughout their range due to a combination of habitat destruction, declining hard mast availability, and roundworm parasitism. In an effort to initiate genetic rescue of a small, genetically depauperate subpopulation in New Jersey, woodrats were translocated from a genetically robust population in Pennsylvania (PA) in 2015, 2016, and 2017. Herein, we assess the efficacy of these translocations to restore genetic diversity within the recipient population. 
Results: We designed a novel 134 single nucleotide polymorphism panel, which was used to genotype the six woodrats translocated fro...