Zapus hudsonius luteus microsatellite and mtDNA datasets

In the face of accelerated warming and drying, habitat specialists of riparian zones could be threatened with genetic erosion if their effective population sizes become small due to loss and fragmentation of habitat. The New Mexico meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius luteus) is Endangered due to a suite of disturbances to their riparian habitat but the degree of functional connectivity within and among the drainages they occupy is unknown. Using microsatellite and mtDNA, we examined the hypothesis of hydrologically-mediated gene flow (via riparian networks) by assessing structure, diversity, and the possibility of overland dispersal among disconnected watersheds (White Mountains, AZ). Both a priori and de novo structure supported stream-mediated gene flow. However, inferred clusters crossed watershed boundaries, and migration rates and dispersers suggest infrequent use of overland paths at nearby sub-drainages among each watershed. Analysis of mtDNA indicated that this was likely a long-term phenomenon, also suggesting that one of the watersheds (LCR) may have been more historically diverse than its contemporary snapshot (nuDNA). Our analysis led us to suspect fragmentation in its eastern fork, an area most impacted by human development. We conclude that the boundaries of drainages affect the White Mountains population structure but short, cryptic, overland paths among them likely play a role in replenishing genetic diversity. We also report an extension to the species longevity from 2 to 4 years from genetic recaptures during our six-year study period.