Data from: Landscape effects on the contemporary genetic structure of Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) populations

The amount of dispersal that occurs among populations can be limited by
landscape heterogeneity, which is often due to both natural processes and
anthropogenic activity leading to habitat loss or fragmentation.
Understanding how populations are structured and mapping existing
dispersal corridors among populations is imperative to both determining
contemporary forces mediating population connectivity, and informing
proper management of species with fragmented populations. Furthermore, the
contemporary processes mediating gene flow across heterogeneous landscapes
on a large scale are understudied, particularly with respect to widespread
species. This study focuses on a widespread game bird, the Ruffed Grouse
(Bonasa umbellus), for which we analyzed samples from the western extent
of the range. Using three types of genetic markers, we uncovered multiple
factors acting in concert that are responsible for mediating contemporary
population connectivity in this species. Multiple genetically distinct
groups were detected; microsatellite markers revealed six groups, and a
mitochondrial marker revealed four. Many populations of Ruffed Grouse are
genetically isolated, likely by macrogeographic barriers. Furthermore, the
addition of landscape genetic methods not only corroborated genetic
structure results, but also uncovered compelling evidence that dispersal
resistance created by areas of unsuitable habitat is the most important
factor mediating population connectivity among the sampled populations.
This research has important implications for both our study species and
other inhabitants of the early successional forest habitat preferred by
Ruffed Grouse. Moreover, it adds to a growing body of evidence that
isolation by resistance is more prevalent in shaping population structure
of widespread species than previously thought.