Data from: Environmental and anthropogenic factors mediating the functional connectivity of the mesquite lizard along the eastern Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt

Functional connectivity, the extent to which a landscape facilitates or
impedes the dispersal of individuals across the landscape, is a key factor
for the survival of species. Anthropogenic activities such as
urbanization, agriculture, and roads, negatively impact functional
connectivity of most species, particularly low-vagility species like
lizards. Here, we examine how a landscape modified by anthropogenic
activities affects the functional connectivity, at both broad and fine
scales, of a widely distributed generalist lizard Sceloporus grammicus in
the eastern Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, Mexico. We estimated for the
first time the species genetic structure, gene flow, and functional
connectivity in agricultural and forest zones using genomic data, a
comprehensive landscape characterization, and novel methods including
gravity models. Our results showed marked genetic differentiation across
the study region but also that functional connectivity is maintained for
tens of kilometers despite S. grammicus low vagility. Specifically, we
found that substrate and air temperature facilitated connectivity over
broad and fine scales, respectively, while agricultural cover, relative
humidity, and slope were important for connectivity and gene flow.
Contrastingly, forest cover and roads favored (broad-scale) and limited
(fine-scale) connectivity, likely associated with movement facilitated by
small forest patches and with thermoregulation. Altogether, these results
support that S. grammicus alternates its thermoregulatory behavior
depending on the distance traveled and the habitat environmental
conditions, and that it can disperse through relatively modified
landscapes, mainly using agricultural zones. The information obtained is
crucial to understanding the response of lizards to current anthropogenic
pressures and their potential to adapt.