We collected ddRADseq data using the Peterson et al. 2012 (see Methodology for full citation) protocol to study the population structure and genetic diversity of two threatened species of gartersnakes inhabiting the lower Colorado River Basin in the United States: Mogollon Narrow-headed gartersnake (Thamnophis rufipunctatus) and Northern Mexican gartersnake (T. eques megalops). Data were sequenced on an Illumina HiSeq 2500 and 4000 to generate 50 base pair sequence reads and stored as fastq files. Data were submitted to NCBI in an approved format for their database. Data are stored in the NCBI Sequence Read Archive in fastq file format and can be found at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sra/SRP144044 These data support the following publication: Wood, D.A., Emmons, I.D., Nowak, E.M., Christman, B.L., Holycross, A.T., Jennings, R.D., and Vandergast, A.G., 2018, Conservation genomics of the Mogollon Narrow-headed gartersnake (Thamnophis rufipunctatus) and Northern Mexican gartersnake (T. eques megalops): U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report XXXXXXXXX

The Mogollon Narrowheaded gartersnake (Thamnophis rufipunctatus) and the Northern Mexican gartersnake (Thamnophis eques megalops) are both listed as Threatened under the Federal Endangered Species Act. Both species have a strong association with aquatic habitats, and these habitats have been highly altered from impoundments, land-use changes, and the introduction and spread of non-native aquatic species, which have contributed to declines in Arizona and New Mexico over the last 30-40 years. We characterized 125 microsatellite loci per species to generate genetic toolsets for use in long term genetic monitoring of populations. We evaluated microsatellite loci for missing data and several variability thresholds, which resulted in 108 microsatellite loci for T. rufipunctatus and 91 microsatellite loci for T. eques megalops.

The Mogollon Narrowheaded gartersnake (Thamnophis rufipunctatus) and the Northern Mexican gartersnake (Thamnophis eques megalops) are both listed as Threatened under the Federal Endangered Species Act. Both species have a strong association with aquatic habitats, and these habitats have been highly altered from impoundments, land-use changes, and the introduction and spread of non-native aquatic species, which have contributed to declines in Arizona and New Mexico over the last 30-40 years. We characterized 125 microsatellite loci per species to generate genetic toolsets for use in long term genetic monitoring of populations. We evaluated microsatellite loci for missing data and several variability thresholds, which resulted in 108 microsatellite loci for T. rufipunctatus and 91 microsatellite loci for T. eques megalops.

We investigated fine-scale genetic patterns of the federally threatened Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus) on a relatively undisturbed island in northern Michigan, USA. This species often persists in habitat islands throughout much of its distribution due to extensive habitat loss and distance-limited dispersal. These data are from 102 individual Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes sampled at Bois Blanc Island, Michigan and genotyped at 15 microsatellite loci. Samples were collected as part of a study to examine functional connectivity for the Eastern Massasauga. We found that the entire island population exhibited weak genetic structuring with spatially segregated variation in effective migration and genetic diversity.

We investigated fine-scale genetic patterns of the federally threatened Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (Sistrurus catenatus) on a relatively undisturbed island in northern Michigan, USA. This species often persists in habitat islands throughout much of its distribution due to extensive habitat loss and distance-limited dispersal. These data are from 102 individual Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnakes sampled at Bois Blanc Island, Michigan and genotyped at 15 microsatellite loci. Samples were collected as part of a study to examine functional connectivity for the Eastern Massasauga. We found that the entire island population exhibited weak genetic structuring with spatially segregated variation in effective migration and genetic diversity.

Conversion and fragmentation of wildlife habitat often leads to smaller and isolated populations and can reduce a species’ ability to disperse across the landscape. As a consequence, genetic drift can quickly lower genetic variation and increase vulnerability to extirpation. For species of conservation concern, quantification of population size and connectivity can clarify the influence of genetic drift in local populations and provides important information for conservation management and recovery strategies. Here, we used genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data and capture-mark-recapture methods to evaluate the population structure, genetic diversity and abundance of seven focal sites of the endangered San Francisco gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia), a species affected by alteration and isolation of wetland habitats throughout its distribution. We also used temporally sampled datasets to examine the magnitude of genetic change over time.

Conversion and fragmentation of wildlife habitat often leads to smaller and isolated populations and can reduce a species’ ability to disperse across the landscape. As a consequence, genetic drift can quickly lower genetic variation and increase vulnerability to extirpation. For species of conservation concern, quantification of population size and connectivity can clarify the influence of genetic drift in local populations and provides important information for conservation management and recovery strategies. Here, we used genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data and capture-mark-recapture methods to evaluate the population structure, genetic diversity and abundance of seven focal sites of the endangered San Francisco gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia), a species affected by alteration and isolation of wetland habitats throughout its distribution. We also used temporally sampled datasets to examine the magnitude of genetic change over time.

Vector datasets of CWHR range maps are one component of California Wildlife Habitat Relationships (CWHR), a comprehensive information system and predictive model for Californias wildlife. The CWHR System was developed to support habitat conservation and management, land use planning, impact assessment, education, and research involving terrestrial vertebrates in California. CWHR contains information on life history, management status, geographic distribution, and habitat relationships for wildlife species known to occur regularly in California. Range maps represent the maximum, current geographic extent of each species within California. They were originally delineated at a scale of 1:5,000,000 by species-level experts and have gradually been revised at a scale of 1:1,000,000. For more information about CWHR, visit the CWHR webpage (https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Data/CWHR). The webpage provides links to download CWHR data and user documents such as a look up table of available range maps including species code, species name, and range map revision history; a full set of CWHR GIS data; .pdf files of each range map or species life history accounts; and a User Guide.

We compared genetic diversity and body condition indices among two source locations in Catron County, New Mexico (Whitewater Creek and Middle Fork Gila) and the recipient population (Saliz Creek) to evaluate individual- and population-level fitness responses related to the admixture of gene pools following the the translocation of Mogollon Narrow-headed Gartersnakes (Thamnophis rufipunctatus). Our body condition dataset consisted of 294 snakes, and 174 genetic samples were used for genetic diversity estimates, with 95 snakes sharing both genetic and body condition data used for heterozygosity-fitness correlation analyses. As Thamnophis rufipunctatus is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, sensitive location information can be made available upon request by contacting the dataset point of contact.

We used genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data and capture-mark-recapture methods to evaluate the genetic diversity and demography within seven focal sites of the endangered San Francisco gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia). As Thamnophis sirtalis tetrataenia is listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), sensitive location information can be made available upon request by contacting Brian J. Halstead and/or Amy G. Vandergast.