title: Environmental and anthropogenic drivers of connectivity patterns: A basis for prioritizing conservation efforts for threatened populations.
abstract: Ecosystem fragmentation and habitat loss have been the focus of landscape management due to restrictions on contemporary connectivity and dispersal of populations. Here, we used an individual approach to determine the drivers of genetic differentiation in caribou of the Canadian Rockies. We modelled the effects of isolation by distance, landscape resistance and predation risk and evaluated the consequences of individual migratory behaviour (seasonally migratory vs. sedentary) on gene flow in this threatened species. We applied distance-based and reciprocal causal modelling approaches, testing alternative hypotheses on the effects of geographic, topographic, environmental and local population-specific variables on genetic differentiation and relatedness among individuals. Overall, gene flow was restricted to neighbouring local populations, with spatial coordinates, local population size, groups and elevation explaining connectivity among individuals. Landscape resistance, geographic distances and predation risk were correlated with genetic distances, with correlations threefold higher for sedentary than for migratory caribou. As local caribou populations are increasingly isolated, our results indicate the need to address genetic connectivity, especially for populations with individuals displaying different migratory behaviours, whilst maintaining quality habitat both within and across the ranges of threatened populations.
authors.affiliation: School of Environment and Life Sciences University of Salford Salford UK; Faculties of Environmental Design and Veterinary Medicine University of Calgary Calgary AB Canada.
authors.forename: Chrysoula
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gubili
authors.affiliation: School of Environment and Life Sciences University of Salford Salford UK.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mariani
authors.affiliation: Panthera New York NY USA.
authors.forename: Byron V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Weckworth
authors.affiliation: Faculties of Environmental Design and Veterinary Medicine University of Calgary Calgary AB Canada.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Galpern
authors.affiliation: School of Environment and Life Sciences University of Salford Salford UK.
authors.forename: Allan D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: McDevitt
authors.affiliation: Wildlife Biology Program Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences College of Forestry and Conservation University of Montana Missoula MT USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hebblewhite
authors.affiliation: Environmental Studies Department Center for Integrated Spatial Research University of California Santa Cruz CA USA.
authors.forename: Barry
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nickel
authors.affiliation: Faculties of Environmental Design and Veterinary Medicine University of Calgary Calgary AB Canada.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Musiani
keywords: Rangifer tarandus; connectivity; gene flow; isolation; landscape genetics; nuclear loci; reciprocal causal modelling