SNP genotyping of North Head and northern Sydney Long-nosed bandicoots (Perameles nasuta)

Wildlife species impacted by habitat loss and fragmentation often require
conservation efforts to maintain populations. Long-nosed bandicoots
(Perameles nasuta) still persist within the highly urbanised matrix of
northern Sydney (Australia). These data are from a conservation genetics
project investigating population structure and genetic diversity of the
North Head Long-nosed bandicoot (Perameles nasuta) population and
individuals from surrounding suburbs throughout northern Sydney. The
population at North Head, Sydney, is currently listed as
an Endangered population due to its small size, apparent
isolation and other threats. To support future management, we used 1,446
single nucleotide polymorphism markers (SNPs) from 167 bandicoots to: i)
assess the assumption of isolation and determine if genetic structuring is
present between North Head and individuals from 11 other localities in
northern Sydney, and ii) investigate genetic diversity over time in the
North Head population from 2002 to 2018. Analyses confirmed population
structuring and genetic divergence between North Head and greater northern
Sydney. Three distinct populations were identified that corresponded to
geographic localities (North Head, northern Sydney and Mosman). All
populations were significantly differentiated (FST = 0.171–0.345),
suggesting local genetic drift between localities. North Head genetic
diversity indices estimated between 2002 to 2018 showed relatively
constant levels of allelic richness (1.90–2.00) and observed
heterozygosity (HO = 0.231–0.310) along with minor levels of inbreeding
(FIS 0.020–0.052). The identification of some individuals sampled
on North Head that were assigned to other populations suggests some
sporadic geneflow into the population has occurred and may have assisted
with maintaining genetic diversity. These data were used to suggest that
the North Head population is distinct from other northern Sydney
populations and has relatively constant levels of genetic diversity.