Low-coverage WGS of Mustela nivalis (least weasel) populations in Sweden and Poland

The least weasel (Mustela nivalis) is one of several mammal species that undergo seasonal coat colour change, a key adaptive trait that allows camouflage in environments with seasonal snow. Polymorphism in winter colour, i.e. winter-white or winter-brown morphs, allows local adaptation to environments with distinct winter snow conditions. Here, we study the genetic basis of winter coat colour variation in this species. We generated low-coverage whole-genome sequencing data for individuals representative of both winter morphs, from two transition zones where both phenotypes co-exist, in Sweden and Poland. The WGS data were generated from specimens held at the collections of the Swedish Museum of Natural History (Stockholm) and the Mammal Research Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences (Bialowieza).