Low genetic diversity and shallow population structure in the broom hare, Lepus castroviejoi (Lagomorpha:Leporidae)

For the broom hare (Lepus castroviejoi), a total of 54 consensus genotypes were obtained from 185 genetic non-invasive samples (gNIS) (i.e., feces) collected between 2019 and 2021 across the entire species distribution range in the Cantabrian mountains (Spain). In addition to the gNIS, 22 specimens were collected from hunting and road-kills, in an opportunistic manner and with no special regard for the locality of the specimens, between 2003 and 2007. Samples from populations of the European hare (L. europaeus), mountain hare (L. timidus), Iberian hare (L. granatensis) and Italian hare (L. corsicanus) from the CIBIO-InBIO tissue bank to accurately were collected between 2002 and 2020 in the scope of previous studies, with help of researchers and collaborators. The sampled populations were: Alava (EUR1, n=20), Germany (EUR2, n=15), Austria (EUR3, n=19) and Northeast Spain (EUR4, n=27) for the European hare (n=81 in total); Southern Spain (GRA1, n=15), Pancas (GRA2, n=29) and Soria (GRA3, n=24) for the Iberian hare (n=68 in total); Sweden (TIM1, n=20) and Switzerland (TIM2, n=57) for the mountain hare (n=77 in total); and mainland Italy for the Italian hare (COR1, n=20).