Data for: Whole genome resequencing data provide high-resolution conservation insights into population structure resulting from natal philopatry

lt;p align=quot;leftquot;gt;This is the associated data for the manuscript amp;quot;Whole genome resequencing data provide high-resolution conservation insights into population structure resulting from natal philopatry.amp;quot; Whole genome resequencing can be a powerful tool for uncovering biological insights and quantifying population genomic metrics that are relevant to conservation. These biological and conservation insights have the potential to be most profound in secretive or elusive species that are understudied but may be waning. The western chicken turtle (lt;emgt;Deirochelys reticularia miaralt;/emgt;) is one such example where conservationists are concerned about reported population declines. Here, we report results from analyses of genome sequence data from western chicken turtles and how the associated inferences could be used to inform management decisions. We first sequenced and assembled a novel reference genome, then conducted a population genomics resequencing survey across much of Texas that represents one of the first in any freshwater turtle. We uncovered remarkably fine-scale population structure indicative of extensive natal philopatry. Absolute values of fixation indices were small, but principal component analyses of the resequencing data readily separated individuals into clusters that correspond to their geographic sampling site (i.e., wetland) and phylogenomic analyses revealed monophyletic groupings that also correspond to wetlands. Estimates of individual genome-wide heterozygosity (lt;emgt;Hlt;/emgt;) were similar to those observed for threatened or endangered turtle species. Collectively, our data indicate that western chicken turtle populations have limited genomic diversity that is spatially differentiated due to natal philopatry and limited gene flow. We discuss the relevance of these insights as they pertain to turtle biology, including the conservation implications of philopatry in a potentially declining species. The dataset published here includes metadata for each of the sequenced individuals in this study, including information on age, sex, and sampling location.lt;/pgt;