The Impacts of Land Use and Climate Change on Mojave Desert Tortoise Gene Flow and Corridor Functionality

Mojave Desert Tortoises (Gopherus agassizii) were sequenced throughout this species' range in the Mojave Desert (California, Nevada, and Utah) using the ddRAD protocol (Peterson et al. 2012). Sequence data were used to a) assess population genetic patterns, b) quantify gene flow throughout the Mojave Desert, c) characterize potentially adaptive loci throughout the Mojave Desert Tortoise genome, and d) characterize spatial patterns in adaptive genetic variation.