Using relatedness networks to infer contemporary dispersal: application to the endangered mammal Galemys pyrenaicus

Information about the degree of contemporary dispersal is important when trying to understand how populations interchange individuals and identify the specific barriers that prevent these movements. In the case of endangered species, this can represent crucial information when designing appropriate strategies that favor natural genetic exchange between populations. Here we analyze the parentage relationships between individuals from different localities and use these data to infer dispersal occurred in recent generations. We applied this approach to the Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus), a semiaquatic and endangered species endemic to the Iberian Peninsula. We studied this species in four primary rivers in the Iberian Range, where two ancient mitochondrial lineages are separated by a strict contact zone but whose populations are more homogeneous at the genome level, suggesting the existence of complex dispersal patterns. Using next generation sequencing, we obtained 912 SNPs from eac...