Data from: Comparative population genomics reveals key barriers to dispersal in Southern Ocean penguins

The mechanisms that determine patterns of species dispersal are important factors in the production and maintenance of biodiversity. Understanding these mechanisms helps to forecast the responses of species to environmental change. Here we used a comparative framework and genome-wide data obtained through RAD-seq to compare the patterns of connectivity among breeding colonies for five penguin species with shared ancestry, overlapping distributions, and differing ecological niches, allowing an examination of the intrinsic and extrinsic barriers governing dispersal patterns. Our findings show that at-sea range and oceanography underlie patterns of dispersal in these penguins. The pelagic niche of emperor (Aptenodytes forsteri), king (A. patagonicus), Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae) and chinstrap (P. antarctica) penguins facilitates gene flow over thousands of kilometres. In contrast, the coastal niche of gentoo penguins (P. papua) limits dispersal, resulting in population divergences. Oceanographic fronts also act as dispersal barriers to some extent. We recommend that forecasts of extinction risk incorporate dispersal and that management units are defined by at-sea range and oceanography in species lacking genetic data.

Usage Notes
Adelie penguins - VCF of SNP datasetAdelie.vcfChinstrap penguins - VCF of SNP datasetChinstrap.vcfGentoo penguins - VCF of full SNP datasetincludes outlier lociGentoos_all-SNPs.vcfGentoo penguins - VCF of neutral SNP datasetoutlier loci removedGentoos_neutral-SNPs.vcfGentoo penguins - nexus file for BFD*Input file of SNPs for BFD* species delimitationGentoos_input_for_BFD.nexGentoo penguins - phylip file for RAxMLPhylip alignment of SNPs for phylogenetic inference in RAxMLGentoos_input_for_RAxML.phyGentoos_input_for_SNAPP_set1XML input file for SNAPP analysis of gentoo penguins - set 1Gentoos_input_for_SNAPP_set2XML input file for SNAPP analysis - set 2

物种扩散模式决定机制在生物多样性的产生与维持中扮演着至关重要的角色。对这些机制的理解有助于预测物种对环境变化的响应。本研究采用比较框架和通过RAD-seq获得的基因组广域数据，对比了具有共同祖先、重叠分布和不同生态位五种企鹅物种的繁殖群体间的连通性模式，从而考察了支配扩散模式的内在和外在屏障。我们的研究结果表明，海洋范围和海洋学特征是这些企鹅扩散模式的基础。皇帝企鹅（Aptenodytes forsteri）、皇企鹅（A. patagonicus）、阿德利企鹅（Pygoscelis adeliae）和环颈企鹅（P. antarctica）的远洋生态位促进了数千公里的基因流动。相比之下，金图企鹅（P. papua）的沿海生态位限制了扩散，导致了种群分化。海洋学锋面也在一定程度上充当了扩散屏障。我们建议，在预测灭绝风险时，应考虑扩散因素，并在缺乏遗传数据的物种中，根据海洋范围和海洋学特征来定义管理单元。