Data from: Selection and drift influence genetic differentiation of insular Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) on Newfoundland and Cape Breton Island

Island populations have long been important for understanding the dynamics
and mechanisms of evolution in natural systems. While genetic drift is
often strong on islands due to founder events and population bottlenecks,
the strength of selection can also be strong enough to counteract the
effects of drift. Here, we used several analyses to identify the roles of
genetic drift and selection on genetic differentiation and diversity of
Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) across eastern Canada, including the islands
of Cape Breton and Newfoundland. Specifically, we assessed whether we
could identify a genetic component to the observed morphological
differentiation that has been reported across insular and mainland lynx.
We used a dinucleotide repeat within the promoter region of a functional
gene that has been linked to mammalian body size, insulin-like growth
factor-1 (IGF-1). We found high genetic differentiation at neutral
molecular markers but convergence of allele frequencies at the IGF-1
locus. Thus, we showed that while genetic drift has influenced the
observed genetic structure of lynx at neutral molecular markers, natural
selection has also played a role in the observed patterns of genetic
diversity at the IGF-1 locus of insular lynx.