Patterns of genetic partitioning and gene flow in the endangered San Bernardino kangaroo rat (Dipodomys merriami parvus) and implications for conservation management

High-Quality Reference Genome for an Arid-Adapted Mammal, the Banner-Tailed Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys spectabilis)

“…Through these analyses, we have demonstrated the applicability of our new D. spectabilis reference genome to genomic studies across the genus Dipodomys , a taxon comprising species with a broad range of conservation statuses and habitat preferences. Our annotated assembly represents a significant improvement in resources for this genus and will facilitate future investigations into a broad range of eco-evolutionary questions, including for species of conservation concern, such as D. stephensi , or for other Dipodomys species experiencing increasing habitat fragmentation and population declines ( Blackhawk et al 2016 ; Hendricks et al 2020 ).…”

“…Often considered keystone species, kangaroo rats inhabit warm and cold deserts, arid and semiarid grasslands, and scrublands of western North America, with most species preferring sandy soils that allow for construction of elaborate underground burrows used for protection from predators and harsh environmental conditions, reproduction, and food caching ( Brown and Heske 1990 ; Alexander and Riddle 2005 ). For many of these species, limited dispersal capabilities and habitat fragmentation has led to population declines, with five species classified as threatened by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and two species (and four additional subspecies) listed as federally endangered, of which several have been the subject of management efforts to decrease species vulnerability ( Loew et al 2006 ; Blackhawk et al 2016 ; Hendricks et al 2020 ; IUCN 2021 ; Shier et al 2021 ). The imperiled state of many Dipodomys populations, combined with the vast array of occupied habitat types that include arid environments, make species of this genus valuable subjects for studying the impacts of habitat degradation and fragmentation on population genomic patterns and for characterizing the genomic bases of adaptation to extreme environments.…”

Genetic divergence and ecological adaptation of an eastern North American spring ephemeral Sanguinaria canadensis

“…The importance of understanding the distribution of genetic variation and its formation mechanism across spatiotemporal scales is widely recognized for biodiversity conservation (Mamoozadeh et al., 2023; Willis & Bhagwat, 2009). In management practices, conservation units are often defined based on the determination of population distinctiveness, estimation of genetic diversity, test of population bottlenecks, measuring landscape connectivity and consideration of adaptive differentiation (Flanagan et al., 2018; Hendricks et al., 2020; Samad‐zada & Rehan, 2023). Benefitted from the use of genomic SNPs and plastome data, we have identified three genetic lineages (i.e.…”

High-quality reference genome for an arid-adapted mammal, the banner-tailed kangaroo rat (Dipodomys spectabilis)

“…Often considered keystone species, kangaroo rats inhabit warm and cold deserts, arid and semi-arid grasslands, and scrublands of western North America, with most species preferring sandy soils that allow for construction of elaborate underground burrows used for protection from predators and harsh environmental conditions, reproduction, and food caching (Alexander & Riddle 2005;Brown & Heske 1990). For many of these species, limited dispersal capabilities and habitat fragmentation has led to population declines, with five species classified as threatened by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and two species (and four additional subspecies) listed as federally endangered, of which several have been the subject of management efforts to decrease species vulnerability (IUCN 2021;Shier et al 2021;Hendricks et al 2020;Blackhawk et al 2016;Loew et al 2006). The imperiled state of many Dipodomys populations, combined with the vast array of occupied habitat types that include arid environments, make species of this genus valuable subjects for studying the impacts of habitat degradation and fragmentation on population genomic patterns and for characterizing the genomic bases of adaptation to extreme environments.…”

“…Declines in Ne for these species may correspond to disrupted movement patterns among populations during Pleistocene glacial-interglacial cycles.Through these analyses, we have demonstrated the applicability of our new D. spectabilis reference genome to genomic studies across the genus Dipodomys, a taxon comprising species with a broad range of conservation statuses and habitat preferences. Our annotated assembly represents a significant improvement in resources for this genus and will facilitate future investigations into a broad range of eco-evolutionary questions, including for species of conservation concern, such as D. stephensi, or for other Dipodomys species experiencing increasing habitat fragmentation and population declines(Blackhawk et al 2016;Hendricks et al 2020).…”