Data from: Landscape genetics reveals contrasting patterns of connectivity in two newt species (Lissotriton montandoni and L. vulgaris)

Ecologically distinct species may respond to landscape changes in
different ways. In addition to basic ecological data, the extent of the
geographic range has been successfully used as an indicator of species
sensitivity to anthropogenic landscapes, with widespread species usually
found to be less sensitive compared to range-restricted species. In this
study, we investigate connectivity patterns of two closely related but
ecologically distinct newt species – the range-restricted, Lissotriton
montandoni and the widespread, L. vulgaris – using genomic data, a highly
replicated setting (six geographic regions per species), and tools from
landscape genetics. Our results show the importance of forest for
connectivity in both species, but at the same time suggest differential
use of forested habitat, with L. montandoni and L. vulgaris showing the
highest connectivity at forest-core and forest-edges, respectively.
Anthropogenic landscapes (i.e., higher crop- or urban-cover) increased
resistance in both species, but the effect was one to three orders of
magnitude stronger in L. montandoni than in L. vulgaris. This result is
consistent with a view of L. vulgaris as an ecological generalist. Even
so, currently, the negative impact of anthropogenic landscapes is mainly
seen in connectivity among L. vulgaris populations, which show
significantly stronger isolation and lower effective sizes relative to L.
montandoni. Overall, this study emphasizes how habitat destruction is
compromising genetic connectivity not only in endemic, range-restricted
species of conservation concern but also in widespread generalist species,
despite their comparatively lower sensitivity to anthropogenic landscape
changes.