biostudies-literatureWright ADAlabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and by United States Fish and Wildlife ServiceNSF grantThe Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, and the Hatch program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of AgricultureThe Alabama Supercomputer Authoritye9789https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC7473045biostudies-literatureUnknown8Many freshwater gastropod species face extinction, including 79% of species in the family Pleuroceridae. The Oblong Rocksnail, <i>Leptoxis compacta</i>, is a narrow range endemic pleurocerid from the Cahaba River basin in central Alabama that has seen rapid range contraction in the last 100 years. Such a decline is expected to negatively affect genetic diversity in the species. However, precise patterns of genetic variation and gene flow across the restricted range of <i>L. compacta</i> are unknown. This lack of information limits our understanding of human impacts on the Cahaba River system and Pleuroceridae. Here, we show that <i>L. compacta</i> has likely seen a species-wide decline in genetic diversity, but remaining populations have relatively high genetic diversity. We also report a contemporary range extension compared to the last published survey. Our findings indicate that historical range contraction has resulted in the absence of common genetic patterns seen in many riverine taxa like isolation by distance as the small distribution of <i>L. compacta</i> allows for relatively unrestricted gene flow across its remaining range despite limited dispersal abilities. Two collection sites had higher genetic diversity than others, and broodstock sites for future captive propagation and reintroduction efforts should utilize sites identified here as having the highest genetic diversity. Broadly, our results support the hypothesis that range contraction will result in the reduction of species-wide genetic diversity, and common riverscape genetic patterns cannot be assumed to be present in species facing extinction risk.PeerJRange reduction of Oblong Rocksnail, <i>Leptoxis compacta</i>, shapes riverscape genetic patterns.PMC7473045DBI-1658694Garrison NLWhelan NVJohnson PDWright ADWilliams ASfalseRange reduction of Oblong Rocksnail, <i>Leptoxis compacta</i>, shapes riverscape genetic patterns.Many freshwater gastropod species face extinction, including 79% of species in the family Pleuroceridae. The Oblong Rocksnail, <i>Leptoxis compacta</i>, is a narrow range endemic pleurocerid from the Cahaba River basin in central Alabama that has seen rapid range contraction in the last 100 years. Such a decline is expected to negatively affect genetic diversity in the species. However, precise patterns of genetic variation and gene flow across the restricted range of <i>L. compacta</i> are unknown. This lack of information limits our understanding of human impacts on the Cahaba River system and Pleuroceridae. Here, we show that <i>L. compacta</i> has likely seen a species-wide decline in genetic diversity, but remaining populations have relatively high genetic diversity. We also report a contemporary range extension compared to the last published survey. Our findings indicate that historical range contraction has resulted in the absence of common genetic patterns seen in many riverine taxa like isolation by distance as the small distribution of <i>L. compacta</i> allows for relatively unrestricted gene flow across its remaining range despite limited dispersal abilities. Two collection sites had higher genetic diversity than others, and broodstock sites for future captive propagation and reintroduction efforts should utilize sites identified here as having the highest genetic diversity. Broadly, our results support the hypothesis that range contraction will result in the reduction of species-wide genetic diversity, and common riverscape genetic patterns cannot be assumed to be present in species facing extinction risk.2020-01-01T00:00:00Z20202024-10-15T23:35:34.526Z2020-09-25T07:01:49ZS-EPMC74730453295326910.7717/peerj.9789