Data from: Urbanization and population genetic structure of the Panama City crayfish (Procambarus econfinae)

For species with geographically restricted distributions, the impacts of
habitat loss and fragmentation on long-term persistence may be
particularly pronounced. We examined the genetic structure of Panama City
crayfish (PCC), Procambarus econfinae, whose historical distribution is
limited to an area approximately 145 km2, largely within the limits of
Panama City and eastern Bay County, Florida, USA. Currently, PCC occupy
approximately twenty-eight percent of its historical range, with suitable
habitat composed of fragmented patches in the highly urbanized western
portion of the range and managed plantations in the more contiguous
eastern portion of the range. We used 1,640 anonymous single nucleotide
polymorphisms to evaluate the effects of anthropogenic habitat
modification on the genetic diversity and population structure of 161 PCC
sampled from across it known distribution. First, we examined the urban
habitat patches in the west compared to less-developed habitat patches in
the east. Second, we used Approximate Bayesian Computation to model
inferences on the demographic history of eastern and western populations.
We found anthropogenic habitat modifications explain the genetic structure
of PCC range-wide. Clustering analyses revealed significant genetic
structure between and within eastern and western regions. Estimates of
divergence between east and west were consistent with urban growth in the
mid-20th Century. PCC have low genetic diversity and high levels of
inbreeding and relatedness, indicating populations are small and isolated.
Our results suggest that PCC have been strongly affected by habitat loss
and fragmentation and management strategies, including legal protection,
translocations, or reintroductions, may be necessary to ensure long-term
persistence.