Landscape genetics reveals unique and shared effects of urbanization for two sympatric pool‐breeding amphibians

Metapopulation‐structured species can be negatively affected when landscape fragmentation impairs connectivity. We investigated the effects of urbanization on genetic diversity and gene flow for two sympatric amphibian species, spotted salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) and wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus), across a large (>35,000 km2) landscape in Maine, USA, containing numerous natural and anthropogenic gradients. Isolation‐by‐distance (IBD) patterns differed between the species. Spotted salamanders showed a linear and relatively high variance relationship between genetic and geographic distances (r = .057, p
Landscape genetic analyses reveal contrasting patterns of genetic diversity and differentiation for wood frogs and spotted salamanders across an overlapping region of their ranges that includes numerous natural and anthropogenic gradients. Urban landscape elements have detectable, but differing effects on each species. The scale dependence of isolation‐by‐distance (IBD) patterns is empirically investigated, revealing how IBD inferences vary depending on the spatial extent considered.