Metapopulation Genomics of American Goshawks in the Intermountain West
of the United States
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.