Data from: Whole-genome analysis of Mustela erminea finds that pulsed hybridization impacts evolution at high-latitudes

At high-latitude, climatic shifts hypothetically drove episodes of
divergence during isolation in glacial refugia, or ice-free pockets of
land that enabled terrestrial species persistence. Upon glacial recession,
populations can expand and often come into contact, resulting in admixture
between previously isolated groups. To understand how recurrent periods of
isolation and contact have impacted evolution at high latitudes, we
investigated introgression in the stoat (Mustela erminea), a Holarctic
mammalian carnivore, using whole-genome sequences. We identify two
temporally isolated introgression events coincident with large-scale
climatic shifts: contemporary introgression in a mainland contact zone and
ancient contact ~ 200 km south along North America’s North Pacific Coast.
Repeated episodes of gene flow highlight the central role of cyclic
climates in structuring high-latitude diversity, through refugial
divergence and subsequent introgressive hybridization. Introgression
followed by allopatry (e.g., insularization) may contribute to expedited
divergence of island taxa experiencing substantial glacial flux.