Population genomic investigation of the Oregon Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps wrighti) reveals suburban populations are remnants, not recent introductions

Le résumé fourni par la source

In the face of urbanization and anthropogenic change, some native species persist while others are lost. Understanding native populations, particularly in marginal habitat, can lend insights into the effects of habitat change. The Oregon Slender Salamander ( Batrachoseps wrighti ) is endemic to the late-successional forests of the Cascade Range in Oregon and has declined due to land use change. In 2007, several populations of the Oregon Slender Salamander were found within highly human-modified localities in the Portland Metropolitan Region. We investigate whether these, and other newly discovered suburban populations, represent remnant populations that persisted in the face of habitat change or if they were recently reintroduced to the area via human-assisted transport. We use ecological niche models to assess climatic suitability of the suburban localities and population genomic analyses to examine the relationship of these suburban populations to populations within forested habitats in the Oregon Cascade Range. We find that the suburban sites are marginally suitable for the Oregon Slender Salamander. Furthermore, these populations are genetically distinct from those in the Cascade Range and show a pattern of isolation-by-distance. Our results support the hypothesis that these populations are remnant populations rather than recent introductions and represent a unique evolutionary history.

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