Comparing microsatellites and single nucleotide polymorphisms to evaluate genetic structure and diversity in wolverines (Gulo gulo) across Alaska and western Canada

The Wolverine (Gulo gulo) is a cold-adapted species of conservation interest because it is sensitive to human development, disturbance, exploitation, and climate warming. Wolverine populations have been studied across much of their distributional range to evaluate patterns of genetic diversity, genetic structure, and gene flow. Little population structure has been detected in northwestern North America with microsatellite loci, but low genomic diversity in wolverines may limit detection of genetic differences in this highly vagile species. Here, we genotyped a relatively large sample of wolverines from across Alaska (US) and adjacent Yukon (Canada) with 12 microsatellite loci (n = 501) and 4,222 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; n = 201) identified using restriction-site associated DNA sequencing. We compared the relative ability of our microsatellite and SNP datasets to evaluate population genetic structure, genetic diversity, differentiation, and isolation by distance (IBD). We p..., Microsatellite genotyping and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping via restriction site associated DNA sequencing (RAD seq)., , # Comparing microsatellites and single nucleotide polymorphisms to evaluate genetic structure and diversity in wolverines (*Gulo gulo*) across Alaska and western Canada

[https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.crjdfn3dz](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.crjdfn3dz)

## Description of the data and file structure

SNPs were discovered via restriction site-associated DNA sequencing. Sample location data contains sensitive trap line location information and can be requested with an added location buffer.

UA Museum Samples Loaned: Excel file of University of Alaska Museum of the North tissue archive identification numbers and lab sample identification labels. Includes some individuals not successfully genotyped in microsatellite and/or SNP datasets.

**Microsatellite data files:**

gulo_msat_all_genotyped: CSV of all microsatellite genotypes for all individuals, missing data encoded as -1

gulo_msat_related_removed: CSV of microsatellite genotypes for all individuals with highly related individuals remo...