Abstract
Abstract Identifying geographic barriers that define genetic structure within a species is crucial in formulating an effective conservation plan. The identification of appropriate management units is critical for the protection and recovery of the gopher tortoise Gopherus polyphemus, which have declined across their entire range. Previous molecular work at various spatial scales has identified distinct population assemblages of the gopher tortoise. The goal of this study was to assess the genetic structure in gopher tortoises through a more complete sampling of the federally listed as threatened portion of the range and evaluate the extent of genetic isolation imposed by several potential geographic barriers. We sequenced a 712–base-pair portion of a mitochondrial gene (NADH dehydrogenase 4) for 322 individuals from 42 sites across the range. We found two major assemblages of haplotypes separated by a modest phylogenetic break (average uncorrected p distance = 0.015). The biogeographic barrier that best...
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