Data From: Genetic structure of recently fragmented suburban populations of European stag beetle

Habitat loss and fragmentation due to urbanisation can negatively affect
metapopulation persistence when gene flow among populations is reduced and
population sizes decrease. Inference of patterns and processes of
population connectivity derived from spatial genetic analysis has proven
invaluable for conservation and management. However, a more complete
account of population dynamics may be obtained by combining spatial and
temporal sampling. We, therefore, performed a genetic study on European
stag beetle (Lucanus cervus L.) populations in a suburban context using
samples collected in three locations and during the period 2002-2016. The
sampling area has seen recent landscape changes which resulted in
population declines. Through the use of a suite of FST, clustering
analysis, individual assignment, and relatedness analysis we assessed fine
scale spatiotemporal genetic variation within and among habitat patches
using 283 individuals successfully genotyped at 17 microsatellites. Our
findings suggested the three locations to hold demographically independent
populations, at least over time scales of relevance to conservation,
though with higher levels of gene flow in the past. Contrary to
expectation from tagging studies, dispersal appeared to be mainly
female-biased. Although the life cycle of stag beetle suggests its
generations to be discrete, no clear temporal structure was identified,
which could be attributed to the varying duration of larval development.
Since population bottlenecks were detected and estimates of effective
number of breeders were low, conservation actions are eminent which should
include the establishment of suitable dead wood for oviposition on both
local and regional scales to increase (re)colonisation success and
connectivity among current populations.