Male dispersal drives gene flow in Timber Rattlesnakes (Crotalus horridus)

<p class="MsoNormal">Threatened across much of their range, timber rattlesnakes (<em>Crotalus horridus</em>) exhibit patterns in movement and genetic diversity that are shaped by many aspects of their environments in ways that may foster or constrain conservation. We combine movement data with nuclear and mitochondrial population genetic data to understand the population structure of snakes in four overwintering sites (hibernacula) in central Pennsylvania. Our analyses support the conclusion that hibernacula separated by only a few kilometers can represent genetically distinct populations. In addition, as the first dataset to compare nuclear and mitochondrial patterns in<em> C. horridus</em>, we provide novel evidence for how likely asymmetry in gene flow (with males responsible for inter-hibernaculum matings) shapes timber rattlesnake population genetics.</p>