Data from: Landscape genetics of leaf-toed geckos in the tropical dry forest of northern Mexico

Habitat fragmentation due to both natural and anthropogenic forces continues to threaten the evolution and maintenance of biological diversity. This is of particular concern in tropical regions that are experiencing elevated rates of habitat loss. Although less well-studied than tropical rain forests, tropical dry forests (TDF) contain an enormous diversity of species and continue to be threatened by anthropogenic activities including grazing and agriculture. However, little is known about the processes that shape genetic connectivity in species inhabiting TDF ecosystems. We adopt a landscape genetic approach to understanding functional connectivity for leaf-toed geckos (Phyllodactylus tuberculosus) at multiple sites near the northernmost limit of this ecosystem at Alamos, Sonora, Mexico. Traditional analyses of population genetics are combined with multivariate GIS-based landscape analyses to test hypotheses on the potential drivers of spatial genetic variation. Moderate levels of within-population diversity and substantial levels of population differentiation are revealed by FST and Dest. Analyses using STRUCTURE suggest the occurrence of from 2 to 9 genetic clusters depending on the model used. Landscape genetic analysis suggests that forest cover, stream connectivity, undisturbed habitat, slope, and minimum temperature of the coldest period explain more genetic variation than do simple Euclidean distances. Additional landscape genetic studies throughout TDF habitat are required to understand species-specific responses to landscape and climate change and to identify common drivers. We urge researchers interested in using multivariate distance methods to test for, and report, significant correlations among predictor matrices that can impact results, particularly when adopting least-cost path approaches. Further investigation into the use of information theoretic approaches for model selection is also warranted.自然与人为双重驱动因素造成的生境破碎化，持续威胁着生物多样性的演化与维持。该问题在生境丧失速率不断加快的热带地区尤为引人关注。尽管热带旱林（tropical dry forests, TDF）的研究程度远不及热带雨林，但其蕴藏着极为丰富的物种多样性，且正持续面临放牧、农业开垦等人为活动的威胁。然而，学界对栖息于热带旱林生态系统的物种种群遗传连通性的塑造机制仍知之甚少。本研究以墨西哥索诺拉州阿拉莫市附近该生态系统最北界周边的多个样点为研究载体，采用景观遗传学方法，探究叶趾虎（*Phyllodactylus tuberculosus*）的功能连通性。研究将传统种群遗传学分析与基于地理信息系统（Geographic Information System, GIS）的多变量景观分析相结合，对空间遗传变异的潜在驱动因子开展假说检验。FST与Dest分析结果显示，种群内部遗传多样性处于中等水平，而种群间则存在显著的遗传分化。基于STRUCTURE软件的分析表明，依据所选用模型的不同，可划分出2至9个遗传簇。景观遗传学分析结果显示，森林覆盖度、溪流连通性、未受干扰生境、坡度以及最冷月最低温，相较于简单欧氏距离，能够解释更多的遗传变异。未来需在全球热带旱林生境中开展更多景观遗传学研究，以明确不同物种对景观与气候变化的特异性响应，并识别出普适性的驱动因子。我们呼吁采用多变量距离方法开展研究的学者，应对可能影响研究结果的预测因子矩阵间的显著相关性进行检验并予以报告，在使用最小成本路径方法时尤需重视。此外，针对利用信息论方法开展模型选择的相关研究也有待进一步深化。