Data from: Population genetics and speciation of yellow-bellied, red-naped, and red-breasted sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus varius, S. nuchalis, and S. ruber)

In addition, we modelled these species’ ecological niches for the Holocene (~6,000 ya), Last Glacial Maximum (~22,000 ya), and Last Interglacial (~120,000-140,000 ya) to determine if Pleistocene glaciations could have contributed to allopatric distributions, therefore allowing these groups to differentiate. Population genetic data show a potential Pleistocene refugium in Haida Gwaii, an east-west split among S. varius, and low genetic differentiation within each species.

Our control region data show some polyphyly, while COI and CHD1Z data show differentiation among species using composite genotypes. Ecological Niche Modelling shows a large amount of niche overlap at each time period suggesting that S. varius, S. nuchalis, and S. ruber may not have been completely allopatric, and these species likely had repeated intermittent contact. Our data support the growing body of research that suggests differentiation despite gene flow.

Usage notes

Voucher Specimen Data Source museums and identification numbers for all museum specimens used in study. Museum samples from the Royal British Columbia Museum (RBCM), University of British Columbia (UNBC), Queen’s University (QU), University of Michigan (UMich) Museum of Southwest Biology (MSB), American Museum of Natural History (AMNH), University of Washington Burke Museum (UWBM), Royal Alberta Museum (RABM), Field Museum Natural History (FMNH), New Brunswick Museum (NBM), Canadian Museum of Nature (CMN), Smithsonian (Smith) and Royal Saskatchewan Museum (RSKM).

VoucherSpecimenData_Dryad.xlsx Geographic data Coordinate data for all samples used in study. GeographicData_Dryad.xlsx CladesSNPIndel Control region clades, COI SNPs, and CHD1Z Indel loci for each bird in the study.