An evaluation of isolation by distance (IBD) and isolation by resistance (IBR) on genetic structure of the Persian squirrel (Sciurus anomalus) in the Zagros forests of Iran

For conservation of wild species, it is important to understand how landscape change and land management can affect gene flow and movement. Landscape genetic analyses provide a powerful approach to infer effects of various landscape factors on gene flow, thereby informing conservation actions. The Persian squirrel is a keystone species in the woodlands and oak forests of Western Asia, where it has experienced recent habitat loss and fragmentation. We conducted landscape genetic analyses of individuals sampled in the northern Zagros Mountains of Iran (provinces of Kurdistan, Kermanshah, and Ilam), focusing on evaluation of isolation by distance (IBD) and isolation by resistance (IBR), using 16 microsatellite markers. The roles of geographical distance and landscape features including roads, rivers, developed areas, farming and agriculture, forests, lakes, plantation forests, rangelands, shrublands and rocky areas of varying canopy cover, and swamp margins on genetic structure were quanti..., Study site and sampling
Individuals of the Persian squirrel were sampled in the north of the Zagros Forest in Iran (2016–2018) (Kurdistan, Kermanshah and Ilam; Fig. 1). Tissues including small pieces of fur, skin, muscle, and ear were sampled from live, captured animals or corpses, and the geographical coordinates of sampling points were recorded. For sampling of live squirrels, conducted in cooperation with the Department of Environment in Iran, live Persian squirrels illegally taken by hunters or local people were sampled, and all live squirrels were released after capture (Asadi Aghbolaghi et al. 2019). We only included in our dataset samples from animals whose location of capture was certain. Tissues were preserved in ethanol at -20 °C. No samples from zoos were considered in this research because of the risk of hybridization in captivity (Taberlet et al. 1999; Fig 1). A total of 38 individuals were included in this study, all identified previously as belonging to the northern Zagro..., Excel program is needed to open data files.