Zapus hudsonius luteus microsatellite and mtDNA datasets

In the face of accelerated warming and drying, habitat specialists of
riparian zones could be threatened with genetic erosion if their effective
population sizes become small due to loss and fragmentation of habitat.
The New Mexico meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius luteus) is Endangered
due to a suite of disturbances to their riparian habitat but the degree of
functional connectivity within and among the drainages they occupy is
unknown. Using microsatellite and mtDNA, we examined the hypothesis of
hydrologically-mediated gene flow (via riparian networks) by assessing
structure, diversity, and the possibility of overland dispersal among
disconnected watersheds (White Mountains, AZ). Both a priori and de novo
structure supported stream-mediated gene flow. However, inferred clusters
crossed watershed boundaries, and migration rates and dispersers suggest
infrequent use of overland paths at nearby sub-drainages among each
watershed. Analysis of mtDNA indicated that this was likely a long-term
phenomenon, also suggesting that one of the watersheds (LCR) may have been
more historically diverse than its contemporary snapshot (nuDNA). Our
analysis led us to suspect fragmentation in its eastern fork, an area most
impacted by human development. We conclude that the boundaries of
drainages affect the White Mountains population structure but short,
cryptic, overland paths among them likely play a role in replenishing
genetic diversity. We also report an extension to the species longevity
from 2 to 4 years from genetic recaptures during our six-year study
period.