Data for: Inferring population connectivity in Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes (Sistrurus catenatus) using landscape genetics

Assessing the environmental factors that influence the ability of a
threatened species to move through the landscape can be used to identify
conservation actions that connect isolated populations. However, direct
observations of species’ movement are often limited making the development
of alternate approaches necessary. Here we use landscape genetic analyses
to assess the impact of landscape features on the movement of individuals
between local populations of a threatened snake, the Eastern Massasauga
Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus). We linked connectivity data with
habitat information from two landscapes of similar size: a large region of
unfragmented habitat and a previously studied fragmented landscape
consisting of isolated patches of habitat. We used this analysis to
identify features of the landscape where modification or acquisition would
enhance population connectivity in the fragmented region. We found
evidence that current connectivity is impacted by both contemporary
landcover features, especially roads, and inherent landscape features such
as elevation. Next, we derived estimates of expected movement ability
using a recently developed pedigree-based approach and Least Cost Paths
through the unfragmented landscape. We then used our pedigree and
resistance map to estimate resistance polygons of the potential extent for
S. catenatus movement in the fragmented landscape. These polygons identify
possible sites for future corridors connecting currently isolated
populations in this landscape by linking the impact of future habitat
modification or land acquisition to dispersal ability in this species.
Overall, our study shows how modeling landscape resistance across
differently fragmentated landscapes can identify habitat features that
affect contemporary movement in threatened species in fragmented
landscapes and how this information can be used to guide mitigation
actions whose goal is to connect isolated populations.