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Hierarchical population structure of a rare lagomorph indicates recent fragmentation has disrupted metapopulation function

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Abstract

An understanding of genetic diversity and population structure is important to the conservation of declining species within fragmented habitats. These issues become critical for small, isolated populations, in which stochasticity is a main driver of genetic change and possibly of population extinction. In eastern New York and New England the endemic New England cottontail has declined due to habitat loss and fragmentation. As a species that exhibits metapopulation dynamics, habitat fragmentation can have profound implications for its persistence. We examined genetic diversity, population structure, and effective population size (Ne) of New England cottontails in New York, a purported remnant stronghold for the species. We amplified ten microsatellite loci from tissues collected from live-captures and from fecal pellets. We investigated potential hierarchical population structuring using programs STRUCTURE and BAPS. STRUCTURE identified four hierarchical tiers consisting of nine clusters, and BAPS clustering was highly consistent with that given by STRUCTURE. Most populations displayed significant genetic differentiation (FST = 0.04–0.34) and little to no evidence of ongoing connectivity. Low genetic diversity was observed based on allelic richness (2.2–3.0), and all populations had critically low effective population sizes (Ne; 2.7–57.1). Observed trends in population subdivision, genetic diversity, and Ne were consistent with reported trends in the state-endangered Maine-New Hampshire populations, and not indicative of a genetic stronghold within New York. Instead, the small and isolated populations observed here imply a breakdown in metapopulation functionality indicative of conditions faced by the species range-wide and an immediate need for human intervention to restore connectivity and rebuild populations.

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Acknowledgements

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) (Grant No. 66287) and G Douglas provided funding, field support and property access. The USDA McIntire-Stennis Program of SUNY-ESF and the Edna Bailey Sussman Foundation provided additional funding. D Rosenblatt, P Novak, J Jaycox, L Masi, and E Burns provided field assistance and technical support. T Goodie and H Kilpatrick provided training. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife provided additional radio collars. The New York State Department of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation, National Park Service, and Clean Air Fund provided additional land access. KE Alger, KAW Lindsay, S Benedict, and C Michaud provided laboratory support. S Silver, M Hall, J Bittner, C Conte, J DeCotis, S Dermody, K Deweese, J Droke, I Dudley, D Eline, E Gavard, T Hillman, R Kelble, E Kohler, E McKean, S Mello, M Ratchford, E Reuber, S Sultaire, J Wojcik and the NYSDEC and Queen’s Zoo assisted with fieldwork.

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  1. Department of Environmental and Forest Biology, SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, NY, 13210, USA

    Amanda E. Cheeseman, Jonathan B. Cohen & Christopher M. Whipps

  2. Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 03824, USA

    Adrienne I. Kovach

  3. Department of Geography and Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA

    Sadie J. Ryan

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  1. Amanda E. Cheeseman
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  2. Jonathan B. Cohen
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  4. Adrienne I. Kovach
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Correspondence to Amanda E. Cheeseman.

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Cheeseman, A.E., Cohen, J.B., Whipps, C.M. et al. Hierarchical population structure of a rare lagomorph indicates recent fragmentation has disrupted metapopulation function. Conserv Genet 20, 1237–1249 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10592-019-01206-z

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