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Metapopulation Genomics of American Goshawks in the Intermountain West of the United States
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  • Megan Sidran,
  • Robert Miller,
  • Nate Bickford,
  • Brian Maxfield,
  • Becky Williams
Megan Sidran
Utah State University

Corresponding Author:megsidran@gmail.com

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Robert Miller
Boise State University
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Nate Bickford
Oregon Institute of Technology
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Brian Maxfield
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
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Becky Williams
Utah State University Department of Biology
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Abstract

We collected genomic data to investigate the movements of the American goshawk, Accipiter atricapillus, a highly elusive raptor species. American goshawks are thought to form metapopulations, with subpopulations exchanging individuals primarily through natal dispersal. Using DNA from 72 individuals from four locations (Ashley National Forest in northeastern Utah, Lewis and Clark National Forest in western Montana, Colville National Forest in northeast Washington, and Sawtooth National Forest along the Idaho/Utah border), we evaluated the metapopulation genomics of American goshawks in the Intermountain West of the United States. We found no isolation by distance or geographic structuring and high gene flow between these locations despite the hundreds of kilometers between them, which is greater than current estimates of the average dispersal distance of a juvenile goshawk. This suggests (1) that juvenile American goshawks not only are capable of dispersing extreme distances more often than previously believed, and (2) that American goshawks form a more extensive and connected metapopulation than previously believed. With that in mind, it is essential that managers collaborate over these larger regions and coordinate with landowners of non-federal lands to facilitate movement between critical forest habitat to conserve the American goshawk metapopulation.